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BRIEF  BIOGRAPHIES 


Some  Members  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 


SHOWING     THEIR     EARLY    RELIGIOUS     EXERCISES,     AND 
EXPERIENCE   IN   THE  WORK   OF   REGENERATION. 


COMPILED    BY   JOSEPH    WALTON. 


'Be  followers  of  them,  who,  throi^gh  faith  and  patience  inherit  ihe  promises. 
Heb.  vi.  12. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

FOR    SALE    AT    FRIP:ND8'    BOOK    STORK, 

No.  S04  ARCH  STREET. 
1876. 


PREFACE. 


In  preparing  this  compilation,  the  writer  has  especially 
had  in  view  those  persons,  whose  minds  have  been  awak- 
ened to  a  sense  of  their  sinful  condition,  and  in  whom  liv- 
ing desires  have  been  raised  for  admission  into  the  King- 
dom of  heaven.  In  reading  the  accounts  which  follow, 
these  may  see,  that  others,  who  have  gone  before  them,  by 
turning  in  all  sincerity  to  that  Grace  which  convinced 
them  of  their  sin,  and  by  closely  following  its  guidance  ; 
were  enabled  to- forsake  their  sins;  and  to  obtain  true  faith 
in  Christ,  and  a  sense  of  union  and  acceptance  with  Him. 

As  such  visited  ones  patiently  endure  the  judgments  of 
the  Lord,  they  will  find  them  to  produce  the  peaceable 
fruits  of  righteousness  ;  and  thus  the  work  of  redemption 
and  purification  will  go  forward  in  them. 

Though  the  narratives  which  follow  all  relate  to  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Friends,  yet  it  is  not  intended 
thereby  to  convey  the  impression  that  persons  of  other 
religious  persuasions  do  not  partake  in  the  same  blessed 
experiences.  The  writer  fully  believes,  that  the  work  of 
religion  is  substantially  the  same  in  the  hearts  of  all  who 
submit  to  it ;  and  he  unhesitatingly  accepts  the  declaration 
of  the  Apostle  Peter,  "  In  every  nation,  he  that  feareth 
[God]  and  worketh  righteousness,  is  accepted  with  Him." 


550146 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Thomas  Story,             ...  5 

John  Richardson,                .                .  .20 

Christopher  Story,     ...  28 

Gilbert  Latey,    .                .                .  .34 

Jane  Hoskins,              .                .                .  ,        38 

John  Banks,         .           ^ .                .  .44 

William  Edmundson,                  .                .  52 

Joseph  Pike,         .     ^      .                .  .65 

Samuel  Bownas,  "■""'^  ...  73 

Samuel  Fotherc4ill,            .                .  .79 

John  Churchman,        ...  86 

William  Savery,                 .                .  .91 

Mary  Dudley,             ...  96 

Daniel  Wheeler,                .                .  .      105 


BRIEF  BIOGRAPHIES. 


THOMAS    STORY. 

The  Holy  Scriptures  coutaiu  many  directiou.s  jDoiiitiug 
out  the  way  to  salvatiou.  Our  blessed  Saviour  thus  lays 
dowu  the  terms  of  fellowship  with  Him  :  "  If  any  man 
will  be  my  disciple,  let  him  deny  himself,  take  up  his  cross 
daily  and  follow  me."  To  Nicodemus,  he  said,  "  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  except  a  man  be  born  again,  he 
cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God  ;"  and  he  further  explained 
his  meaning,  by  adding,  "  That  which  is  born  of  the  flesh 
is  flesh ;  and  that  which  is  born  of  the  Spirit  is  spirit." 
Paul  and  Silas  exhorted  the  Philippian  jailor  to  believe 
on  the  Loi'd  Jesus  Christ,  and  he  should  be  saved ;  and 
the  apostle  John  testifies  of  Christ,  that  He  "  was  the 
true  Light,  which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into 
the  world."  "As  many  as  received  Him,  to  them  gave 
He  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that 
believe  on  His  name,  which  wei-e  born,  not  of  blood,  nor 
of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but  of  God." 
And  in  another  place  he  uses  this  remarkable  language, 
"  If  we  walk  in  the  Light,  as  He  [God]  is  in  the  Light, 
we  have  fellowship  one  with  another,  and  the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ,  His  Son,  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin." 

From  these  and  other  passages  it  appears,  that  that 

knowledge  of  God  and  of  Christ,  which  is  said   in   the 

Scriptures  to  be  "  eternal  life,"  and  that  faith  to  which 

salvation  is  j)romiscd,  are  to  be  attaiiicfl,  by  cx[)eriencing 

2 


6  THOJIAS    .STORY. 

a  Spiritual  birth,  through  the  operation  of  the  Spirit  of 
God ;  by  bearing  the  daily  cross  and  steadfastly  walking 
in  obedience  to  the  Light  or  Spirit  of  Christ  manifested 
in  the  heart ;  by  which  we  come  to  be  cleansed  from  our 
sins  and  brought  into  fellowship  with  our  Creator.  This 
process  is  inseparably  connected  with  a  measure  of  living 
faith,  for,  as  the  apostle  declares,  "  He  that  cometh  to 
God  must  believe  that  He  is,  and  that  He  is  a  rewarder 
of  them  that  diligently  seek  Him ;"  and  our  Saviour 
himself  says,  "  He  that  believeth  not  the  Son  shall  not 
see  life." 

Those  who  are  sincerely  seeking  the  way  to  Zion,  may 
find  encouragement  and  instruction  in  considering  the 
experience  of  those  who  have  trodden  the  path  to  heaven 
before  them  ;  whose  upright  lives  and  happy  deaths  show 
the  blessed  effects  of  faithfully  obeying  the  Divine  will. 
Among  these  "  companions  of  Christ,"  whose  footsteps 
ai'e  as  waymarks  to  succeeding  generations,  is  Thomas 
Story,  who  was  an  intimate  friend  of  William  Penn,  and 
a  valuable  minister  in  the  Society  of  Friends.  The  fol- 
lowing narrative  is  condensed  from  his  own  account. 

"  I  was  not  naturally  addicted  to  much  vice  or  evil ;  and 
yet  through  the  conversation  of  rude  boys  at  school,  I  had 
acquired  some  things  by  imitation,  tending  that  way  ;  but 
as  I  came  to  put  them  in  practice  by  word  or  action,  I 
found  something  in  myself  at  such  times,  suddenly  sur- 
prising me  with  a  sense  of  the  evil,  and  making  me 
ashamed  when  alone ;  though  what  I  had  said  or  done 
was  not  evil  in  the  common  account  of  such  as  I  convers- 
ed with,  or  among  men,  in  a  common  acceptation.  And 
though  I  did  not  know  or  consider,  what  this  Eeprover 
was,  yet  jt  had  so  much  influence  and  power  with  me, 
that  I  was  much  reformed  thereby  from  those  habits, 
which,  in  time,  might  have  been  foundations  for  greater 
evils;  or  as  stocks  whereon  to  have  eugrafted  a  worse 


I" IK). MAS    STOUV.  7 

uature,  to  the  hriugiug  Ibrth  of  a  inoi-e  plentiful  crop  of 
grosser  vices. 

"  Nevertheless  as  I  grew  up  to  maturity,  I  had  niauy 
flowiugs  and  ebbings  in  my  mind ;  the  common  tempta- 
tions among  youth  being  often  and  strongly  presented. 
And  though  I  was  preserved  from  guilt  as  in  the  sight  of 
men,  yet  not  so  before  the  Lord,  who  seeth  in  secret,  and 
at  all  times  beholdeth  all  the  thoughts,  desires,  words  and 
actions  of  the  children  of  men,  in  every  age  and  through- 
out the  world. 

"The  lust  of  the  flesh,  of  the  eye,  and  the  pride  of  life, 
had  their  objects  and  subjects  presented.  The  airs  of 
youth  were  manj^  and  potent ;  strength,  activity  and 
comeliness  of  person  were  not  awantiug,  and  had  their 
share ;  nor  were  natural  endowments  of  mind,  or  compe- 
tent acquirements  afar  ofi';  and  the  glory,  advancements 
and  preferments  of  the  world  spread  as  nets  in  my  view, 
and  the  friendshiji  thereof  beginning  to  address  me  with 
flattering  courtship. 

"  But  in  process  of  time,  as  these  prevalent  and  potent 
motions  of  corruption  and  sin  became  stronger  and  stron- 
ger in  me,  so  the  Lord,  in  great  goodness  and  mercy,  made 
manifest  to  my  understanding  the  uature  and  end  of  them  ; 
and  having  a  view  of  them  in  the  true  light,  and  the 
danger  attending  them,  they  became  irksome,  disagreea- 
ble and  exceeding  heavy  and  oppressing  to  my  mind. 
And  then  the  necessity  of  that  great  work  of  regeneration 
was  deeply  impressed  upon  me ;  but  I  had  no  experience 
or  evidence  of  it  wrought  in  me  hitherto.  This  appre- 
hension greatly  surprised  me  with  fear,  considering  the 
great  uncertainty  of  the  continuance  of  the  natural  life; 
and  it  began  to  put  a  secret  stain  upon  the  world  and  all 
its  glory,  and  all  that  I  had  to  glory  in  ;  though  I  kept 
these  thoughts  within  my  own  breast,  not  knowing  of  any 
soul  to  whom   I  could  noriouslv  and  safclv  divulge  them. 


«  THOMAS    STOllY. 

And  indeed  uoue,  for  a  considerable  time,  discerned  my 
inward  concern  by  any  outward  appearance ;  which,  I 
found  afterwards,  had  been  much  to  my  advantage  and 
safety. 

"  It  is  admirable  by  what  various  steps  the  Lord  is 
pleased  to  lead  the  sovd  of  man  out  of  this  world  and  the 
spirit  of  it,  home  to  himself;  and  yet  I  am  apt  to  think 
that  in  His  divine  and  unlimited  wisdom,  he  does  not 
take  the  same  outward  method  and  steps  with  every  one, 
but  varies  the  work  of  His  providence,  as  their  states  and 
circumstances  may  best  suit  and  bear.  For,  by  an  acci- 
dent that  liefel  me,  I  was  further  alarmed  to  consider  my 
ways,  the  uncertainty  of  life,  my  present  state  and  latter 
end. 

"  It  was  this  :  Intending  to  go  to  a  country  church  with 
an  acquaintance,  as  we  were  riding  gently  along,  my  horse 
stumbling,  fell  and  broke  his  neck,  and  lay  so  heavy  upon 
my  leg,  that  I  could  scarce  draw  it  from  under  him  ;  yet 
I  received  no  hurt.  But  as  we  stood  by  him  a  little,  I 
had  this  consideration,  that  my  own  life  might  have  been 
ended  by  that  occasion,  and  I  did  not  find  myself  in  a 
condition  fit  for  Heaven,  having  yet  no  evidence  of  that 
necessary  qualification  of  regeneration  ;  which  brought 
great  heaviness  on  my  mind  ;  which  did  not  totally  depart 
till,  through  the  infinite  mercy  of  God,  I  was  favored  with 
further  knowledge  and  a  better  state. 

"Hitherto  I  had  known  the  grace  of  God  in  me  only 
as  a  manifester  of  evil  and  of  sin,  a  word  of  reproof,  and 
a  law  condemning  and  judging  those  thoughts,  desires, 
words,  passions,  afi:ections,  acts  and  omissions,  which  are 
seated  in  the  first  nature,  and  rooted  in  the  carnal  mind  ; 
in  which  the  suggestions,  temptations  and  influences  of 
the  Evil  One  work  and  prevail ;  by  which  Divine  Grace 
I  was  in  some  good  degree  enlightened,  reformed  and  eu- 
altled  therebv  to  shun  and  forbear  all  words  and  acts  thus 


THOMAS   STORY.  9 

kuowu  to  be  evil,  and  moral  righteousness  restored  in  my 
mind,  and  thereby  brought  forth  in  me.  I  became  then 
sequestered,  weaned  and  alienated  from  all  my  former 
acquaintance  and  company ;  their  mannei'S  and  convei*sa- 
tion,  though  not  vicious,  (for  such  I  never  liked,)  became 
burdensome,  tedious  and  disagreeable ;  for  they  had  not 
the  knowledge  of  God,  nor  such  a  conversation  as  I  wanted. 
And  yet  I  did  not  know  the  Divine  Grace  in  its  own 
nature,  as  it  is  in  Christ ;  not  as  a  word  of  faith,  sauctifi- 
cation,  justification,  consolation  and  redemption ;  being 
yet  alive  in  my  own  nature ;  the  8on  of  God  not  yet  re- 
vealed in  me  ;  nor  I,  by  the  power  of  His  holy  cross  yet 
mortified  and  slain  ;  being  without  the  knowledge  of  the 
essential  Truth,  and  in  a  state  contrary  to  Him,  and  un- 
reconciled. But  the  Lord  did  not  leave  me  there,  but  in 
His  matchless  mercy,  followed  me  still  by  His  holy  ad- 
monitions, and  more  and  more  inclined  my  mind  in  an 
earnest  inquiry  after  himself,  and  His  own  essential  truth 
and  word.     '^'     ''■'     * 

"  My  mind  being  truly  earnest  with  God,  thirsting  unto 
death  for  the  knowledge  of  the  way  of  life.  He  was  pleased 
to  hear  the  voice  of  my  necessity ;  for  I  wanted  jjresent 
salvation,  and  the  Lord  knew  my  case  could  not  admit 
of  further  delay.  And  therefore,  being  moved  by  His 
own  free  mercy  and  goodness,  even  in  the  same  love  in 
which  He  sent  his  Son,  the  Beloved,  into  the  world  to 
seek  and  save  the  lost,  on  the  first  day  of  the  Second 
month  in  the  evening,  in  the  year  (according  to  the  com- 
mon account!  1689,  being  alone  in  my  chamber,  the  Lord 
brake  in  upon  me  unexpectedly;  quick  as  lightning  from 
the  heavens,  and  as  a  righteous,  all-powerful,  all-knowing, 
and  sin-condemning  Judge ;  before  whom,  my  soul,  as  in 
the  deepest  agony,  trembled,  was  confounded  and  amazed, 
and  filled  with  such  awful  dread  as  no  words  can  reach 
or  declare. 


10  THOMAS    RTOTtA'. 

"  My  miud  seemed  separated  from  my  body,  pluuged 
into  utter  darkness,  and  being  in  perfect  despair  of  returning 
any  more,  eternal  condemnation  appeared  to  surj'ound  and 
inclose  nie  on  every  side,  as  in  the  centre  of  the  horrible  pit; 
never,  never  to  see  redemption  thence,  or  the  face  of  Him 
in  mercy,  whom  I  had  sought  with  all  my  soul.  But  in 
the  midst  of  this  confusion  and  amazement,  where  no 
thought  could  be  formed,  or  any  idea  retained,  save  eternal 
death  possessing  my  whole  man,  a  voice  was  formed  and 
uttered  in  me,  as  from  the  centre  of  boundless  darkness, 
'  Thy  will,  O  God,  be  done ;  if  this  be  thy  act  alone,  and 
not  my  own,  I  yield  my  soul  to  thee.' 

"  In  the  conceiving  of  these  words,  from  the  Word  of 
life,  I  quickly  found  relief:  there  was  all-healing  virtue  in 
them  ;  and  the  eftect  so  swift  and  powerful,  that,  even  in 
a  moment,  all  my  fears  vanished,  as  if  they  had  never 
been,  and  my  mind  became  calm  and  still,  and  simple  as 
a  little  child  ;  the  day  of  the  Lord  dawned,  and  the  Son 
of  Righteousness  arose  in  me,  with  divine  healing,  and 
restoring  virtue  in  His  countenance;  and  He  became  the 
centre  of  my  mind. 

"The  divine,  essential  Truth  was  now  self-evident ;  there 
wanted  nothing  else  to  prove  it.  I  needed  not  to  reason 
about  Him ;  all  that  was  superseded  and  iramerged  by 
an  intuition  of  that  divine  and  truly  wonderful  evidence 
and  Light,  which  proceeded  from  Himself  alone,  leaving 
no  place  for  doubt,  or  any  question  at  all.  For  as  the 
sun  in  the  open  firmament  of  heaven,  is  not  discovered  or 
seen  Init  l)y  the  direct  efflux  and  medium  of  his  own  light, 
and  the  miud  of  man  determines  thereby  at  sight,  and 
Avithout  any  train  of  reasoning,  what  he  is ;  even  so,  and 
more  than  so,  by  the  overshadowing  influence  and  divine 
virtue  of  the  Highest,  was  my  soul  assured,  that  it  was 
the  Lord. 

"From  lieucefoi'th  I  desired  to  know  notliino-  lint  the 


THOMAS    STOJtV*  11 

Lord,  and  to  feed  ou  that  Bread  of  life,  which  He  him^;elf 
alone  can  give,  and  did  not  fail  to  minister  daily,  and  ofteuer 
than  the  morning.  And  yet,  of  His  own  free-will  and 
goodness,  He  was  pleased  to  open  my  understanding,  by 
degrees,  into  all  the  needful  mysteries  of  His  kingdom, 
and  the  truths  of  His  gospel ;  in  the  process  whereof  He 
exercised  my  mind  in  dreams,  in  visions,  in  revelations, 
in  prophecies,  in  Divine  openings  and  demonstrations. 

"  Also,  by  His  eternal  and  divine  Light,  Grace,  Spirit, 
Power  and  Wisdom  ;  by  His  Word,  He  taught,  instructed 
and  informed  my  mind  ;  and  by  temptations  also  and 
proviugs,  which  He  suffered  Satan  to  minister ;  that  I 
might  see  my  own  weakness  and  danger,  and  prove  to  the 
utmost,  the  force  and  efficacy  of  that  divine  love  and 
truth,  by  which  the  Lord,  in  his  boundless  goodness  and 
mercy,  had  thus  visited  my  soul.     *     *     * 

"As  the  nature  and  virtue  of  the  divine  essential  Truth 
increased  in  my  mind,  it  wrought  in  me  daily  a  greater 
conformity  to  itself,  by  its  own  power;  reducing  my  mind 
to  a  solid  quietude  and  silence,  as  a  state  more  fit  for 
attending  to  the  speech  of  the  Divine  Word,  and  distin- 
guishing it  from  all  other  powers,  and  its  divine  influ- 
ences from  all  imaginations  and  other  motions.  And 
being  daily  fed  with  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  life,  I  desired 
no  other  knowledge  than  that  which  was  given  in  conse- 
quence of  the  strength  of  mind  and  understanding  thence 
arising." 

More  than  two  years  elapsed  after  passing  through  the 
experiences  before-mentioned,  before  Thomas  Story  joined 
the  Society  of  Friends.  He  thus  describes  the  nuinner  in 
which  he  was  led  to  take  this  step. 

"  In  writing  the  last  paragraph  of  a  piece  which  I  in- 
scribed to  the  Saints  in  Zion,  &c.,  the  people  called 
Quakers  were  suddenly,  and  with  some  surprise,  l)r()Ught 
to  niv  mind  :  ;m<l  ho  strongly  impressed   on   my   rcmcni- 


12  'tIIOMAS    STOJIY. 

brance,  that  tlieucefcrward  I  had  a  secret  inclinatiou  to 
inquire  further  coueerning  them,  their  way  and  prin- 
ciples." 

Being  in  the  west  part  of  C\imberland  in  the  year 
1691,  he  heard  of  a  meeting  of  "  Friends"  to  be  held  at 
Broughton.     This  he  attended.     He  says  : 

"  When  we  came  to  the  meeting,  being  a  little  late,  it  was 
full  gathered  ;  and  I  went  among  the  throng  of  the  peo- 
ple on  the  forms,  and  sat  still  among  them  in  that  inward 
condition  and  mental  retirement.  And  though  one  of 
their  ministers,  a  stranger,  began  to  speak  to  some  points 
held  by  them,  and  declaim  against  some  things  held  by 
others  and  denied  by  them,  particularly  predestination,  as 
asserted  by  the  Presbyterians ;  yet  I  took  not  much  notice 
of  it ;  for  as  I  did  not  doubt  but,  like  all  other  sects,  they 
might  have  something  to  say,  both  for  their  own,  and 
against  the  opinions  of  others  ;  yet  my  concern  was  much 
rather  to  know  whether  they  were  a  people  gathered 
under  a  sense  of  the  enjoyment  of  the  presence  of  God  in 
their  meetings  ;  or  in  other  words,  whether  they  worshipped 
the  true  and  living  God,  in  the  life  and  nature  of  Christ, 
the  Son  of  God,  the  true  and  only  Saviour :  and  the  Lord 
answered  my  desire  according  to  the  integrity  of  my  heart. 

"For  not  long  after  I  had  sat  down  among  them,  that 
heavenly  and  watery  cloud  overshadowing  my  mind,  brake 
into  a  sweet  abounding  shower  of  celestial  rain,  and  the 
greatest  part  of  the  meeting  was  broken  together,  dissolved 
and  comforted  in  the  same  divine  and  holy  presence  and 
influence  of  the  true,  holy  and  heavenly  Lord  ;  which  was 
divers  times  repeated  before  the  meeting  ended.  And  in 
the  same  way,  by  the  same  divine  and  holy  Power,  I  had 
been  often  favored  with  before,  when  alone ;  and  when  no 
eye,  but  that  of  Heaven,  beheld,  or  any  knew,  but  the 
Loi'd  himself;  who,  in  infinite  mercy,  had  been  pleased 
to  bestow  so  o-reat  a  favor. 


THO^[AS    STORY.  lo 

"  Our 'joy  was  mutual  ami  full,  though  iu  the  ctHux  of 
many  tears,  as  in  cases  of  the  deepest  and  most  unfeigned 
love ;  fo^;  the  Friends  there,  being  generally  sensible  I 
was  affected  and  tendered  with  them,  by  the  influence  of 
the  divine  Truth  they  knew  and  made  profession  of,  did 
conclude,  I  had  been  at  that  time,  and  not  before,  con- 
vinced, and  come  to  the  knowledge  or  sense  of  the  way 
of  Truth  among  them  ;  and  their  joy  was  as  of  Heaven,  at 
the  return  of  a  penitent ;  and  mine  as  the  joy  of  salvation 
from  God,  in  view  of  the  work  of  the  Lord,  so  far  carried 
on  in  the  earth  ;  when  I  had  thought,  not  long  before, 
there  had  scarce  been  any  true  and  living  faith,  or  know- 
ledge of  God,  in  the  world. 

"  The  meeting  being  ended,  the  peace  of  God,  which 
passeth  all  the  understanding  of  natural  men,  and  is  in- 
expressible by  any  language  but  itself  alone,  remained  as 
a  holy  canopy,  over  my  mind.  But  being  invited,  to- 
gether with  the  ministering  Friend,  to  the  house  of  the 
ancient  widow  Hall,  I  went  willingly  with  them  :  but  the 
sweet  silence  commanded  in  me  still  remaining,  I  had 
nothing  to  say  to  any  of  them,  till  He  was  pleased  to  draw 
the  curtain,  and  veil  His  presence ;  and  then  I  found  my 
mind  pure,  and  in  a  well-bounded  liberty  of  innocent 
conversation  with  them. 

"  And,  being  now  satisfied,  beyond  my  expectation,  con- 
cerning the  people  of  God,  in  whom  the  Lord  had  begun, 
and,  in  a  good  measure,  carried  on,  a  great  work  and  re- 
formation iu  the  earth,  I  determined  in  my  mind,  that 
day,  to  lay  aside  every  business  and  thing  which  might 
hinder  or  veil  in  me  the  enjoyment  of  the  presence  of  the 
Lord,  whether  among  His  people  or  alone;  or  obstruct 
any  service  whereunto  I  was  or  might  be  called  by  Him ; 
especially  things  of  an  entangling  or  confining  nature : 
not  regarding  what  the  world  might  say,  or  what  name 
they  might  impose  ujxin  me."     *     *     * 


14  THOMAS    STOltV. 

"After  tliis  I  was  at  some  other  meetings;  but  little 
notice  was  taken  of  it  by  any  of  my  relations  or  acquain- 
tance, till  the  time  of  the  assizes  at  Carlisle,  wli,ere  some 
Friends  being  prisoners  in  the  county  jail,  for  non-pay- 
ment of  tithes,  others  attended  the  assizes,  as  their  custom 
was,  the  better  to  obviate  the  occasion  of  troubles  or  hurt 
to  any  of  the  Society,  and  to  minister  counsel  or  other 
help,  as  need  might  be ;  and  these  went  to  a  meeting  at 
Scotby,  about  two  miles  from  the  city ;  and  thither  I  went 
also. 

"  During  the  time  of  the  meeting,  I  found  an  unusual 
load  on  my  sjjirit,  and  hardness  in  my  heart ;  insomuch 
that  I  could  hardly  breathe  under  the  oppression  ;  nor 
could  I  say  I  had  any  sense  of  the  comforts  of  the  Divine 
presence  there,  but  that  the  heavens  were  as  thick  brass, 
and  the  bars  thereof  as  strong  iron.  But  though  I  had 
no  enjoyment  in  myself,  yet  I  was  sensible  the  presence 
and  goodness  of  the  Lord  were  there,  and  many  therein 
greatly  comforted ;  and  therefore  did  conclude  my  con- 
dition of  mind  was  from  some  other  cause,  and  not  relat- 
ing to  the  state  of  the  meeting  in  general.  After  the  meet- 
ing was  over,  one  of  them  asked  me  how  I  did ;  I  answered, 
indifiereutly.  Then  he  and  some  others  perceived  my 
spirit  was  oppressed,  and  sympathized  with  me  therein. 
I  could  not,  all  this  time,  perceive  the  particular  matter 
which  thus  affected  me, — for  I  knew  not  of  any  thing  I 
had  done  or  said  to  bring  it  upon  myself — till  that  even- 
ing, being  returned  to  my  father's  house,  very  solitary, 
silent  and  inward,  there  came  in  one  Thomas  Tod,  an 
acquaintance  of  mine ;  who  after  some  compliments  of 
civility, — for  at  that  time  I  had  not  quite  declined  the 
common  modes  of  salutation — desired  to  speak  with  me 
apart ;  and  then  told  me  he  had  a  trial  to  come  on  next 
day,  concerning  certain  houses  of  his  in  the  town  of 
Penrith,  being  the  greatest  part  of  all  he  had  in   the 


THOMAS    STORY.  IT) 

^vorIcl ;  that  one  of  the  Avitne^ses  to  his  deeds  of  convey- 
ance was  dead  ;  another  of  them  gone  into  Ireland,  and 
could  not  be  had  ;  but  I,  being  the  third,  and  having 
made  the  writings,  he  hoped  through  my  evidence  and 
credit,  to  gain  his  just  point  against  his  unfair  adversary; 
and  desired  me  to  be  in  readiness  in  the  morning;  for  the 
trial  was  likely  to  come  ou  very  early. 

"As  soon  as  he  began  this  relation,  the  word  of  life  be- 
gan to  work  in  me  in  a  very  powerful  manner ;  and  the 
hammer  of  the  Lord  I  sensibly  felt,  and  saw  to  be  lifted 
up  upon  that  hardness  of  heart,  which  for  some  time  had 
been  my  state ;  and  it  began  to  be  broken,  softened  and 
dissolved ;  and  the  sense  of  the  love  of  God  in  some  de- 
gree to  be  renewed.  Then  I  saw  plainly  that  this  was 
the  hard  thing  I  had  to  go  through,  and  that  now  was  the 
time  of  trial,  wherein  I  must  take  up  the  cross  of  Christ, 
acknowledge  His  doctrine  in  that  point  fully  and  openly, 
according  to  the  understanding  given  me ;  and  to  despise 
the  shame  and  reproach  and  other  sufferings,  which  I  well 
knew  would  ensue  cpiickly ;  or  I  must  forsake  the  Lord 
forever.  For,  denying  His  doctrine,  in  the  sense  I  had 
now  plainly  seen  it,  would  be  denying  Himself  before 
men  ;  and  if  I  had  then  denied  Him,  I  could  expect  no 
less,  but  according  to  His  word,  to  be  immediately  and  for- 
ever denied  of  Him,  and  left  under  that  hardness  of  heart, 
and  want  of  the  enjoyment  of  His  Divine  presence,  where- 
with I  had  been  favored  before,  and  all  the  dreadful  con- 
sequences of  a  beginning  so  woful. 

"  But  according  to  the  advances  of  the  word  and  work 
of  the  Lord  in  me  at  that  time,  my  heart  inclined  to 
Him,  as  my  acquaintance  was  speaking ;  and  by  the  time 
he  had  done,  I  was  furnished  with  a  full  resolution  to 
give  h'un  a  plain  and  direct  answer ;  which  was  ou  this 
manner:  'I  am  concerned  it  should  fall  out  so;' — fori 
liad  a  real  res])ect  for  him,  and  saw  his  case  to  be  very 


16  THOMAS    STORY. 

hard—'  I  will  appear  if  it  please  God,  and  testify  what  I 
know  in  the  matter,  and  do  what  I  can  for  you  that  way ; 
but  I  cannot  swear.' 

"  Thi.s  was  so  great  a  surprise  to  him,  l)oth  from  the 
nature  of  his  case  and  confidence  he  had  in  my  ready 
compliance,  he  having  had  no  susijiciou  of  my  present 
condition  till  that  moment,  that  he  broke  into  a  passion, 
and  with  an  oath,  or  curse,  said,  '  What !  you  are  not  a 
Quaker,  sure !' 

"  Though  I  had  made  a  confession  to  the  Truth  so  far, 
in  that  point,  and  the  Divine  presence  sensibly  returned 
in  me,  yet,  upon  this  I  was  again  silent,  till  clear  iu  my 
understanding  what  to  answer  in  sincerity  and  truth.  For 
as  nobody  before  that  time  had  called  me  a  Quaker,  so  I 
had  not  assumed  the  appellation ;  which  being  given  in 
reproach,  was  not  grateful ;  though  the  thing  in  its  pro- 
per sense,  most  delightfiil.  Nor  did  I  then  see  whether  I 
had  so  much  unity  with  all  their  tenets  as  might  justify 
me  in  owning  the  name, — for  in  the  unity  of  Divine  love 
and  life  only  I  had  known  them — till  the  power  of  that 
life  of  Him  who  forbiddeth  all  oaths  and  swearing,  aris- 
ing yet  clearer  and  fuller  iu  me,  opened  my  understand- 
ing, cleared  my  way,  and  enabled  me  thereto;  and  then  I 
said,  '  I  must  confess  the  truth,  I  am  a  Quaker.' 

"As  this  confession  brought  me  still  nearer  to  the  Sou 
of  God,  His  love  increasing  yet  more  sensibly  in  me,  so 
likewise  it  heightened  the  perplexity  and  disturbance  of 
my  friend,  whose  case  thereby  became  more  desperate,  in 
his  own  opinion.  Upon  which,  in  an  increase  of  heat,  and 
expressions  therefrom  suiting  so  obvious  a  disappointment, 
as  it  then  ap2:)eared  to  him,  he  threatened  to  have  me  fined 
by  the  Court,  and  proceeded  against  with  the  utmost  rigor 
of  the  law  ;  saying,  '  What !  must  I  lose  my  estate  by 
your  groundless  notions  and  whims  ?' 

"  But  the  higher  my  enemy  arose  and   raged  iu  this 


THOMAS   STORY.  i( 

NYell-meaniug,  but  mistaken  man,  who  thus,  without  de- 
sign, became  the  instrnment  of  my  trial,  the  fuller  and 
more  jjowerful  still  was  the  love  of  God;  whose  cause  I 
had  now  espoused  through  His  own  aid  and  the  power  of 
an  endless  life  from  Him  made  manifest  in  me.  I  re- 
plied, in  that  calm  of  mind  and  re.signation  to  the  will  of 
God,  that  the  life  of  the  Sou  of  God  enableth  to  and 
teacheth,  '  You  may  do  Avhat  you  think  proper  that  way, 
but  I  cannot  comply  with  your  request  in  this  matter, 
whatever  be  the  issue  of  it.'  And  then  he  departed  uuder 
great  dissatisfaction,  with  all  the  threats  and  reproaches 
his  enraged  passions  could  suggest,  under  a  view  of  so 
great  loss. 

"  Immediately  I  retired  into  my  chamber  ;  for  perceiv- 
ing my  grand  enemy  to  be  yet  at  work  to  introduce  a 
sla^^sh  fear,  and  by  that  means  subject  my  mind  and 
bring  me  again  into  captivity  and  liondage,  I  was  willing 
to  be  alone  and  free  from  all  the  interruptions  of  company, 
that  I  might  more  fully  experience  the  arm  of  the  Lord 
and  His  divine  instructions  and  ('(niusel  in  this  great  ex- 
ercise. 

"  The  enemy  being  a  crafty  and  subtle  spirit,  wrought 
upon  my  passions,  not  fully  subjected,  and  artfully  ap- 
plied to  my  natural  reason,  my  understanding  not  being 
fully  illuminated,  as  his  most  suitable  instrument.  He 
urged  the  fine  and  imprisonment,  and  the  hardships 
accompanying  that  conditicm,  and  how  little  help  I  could 
expect  from  my  father  or  friends,  who  would  be  highly 
displeased  with  me,  for  so  foolish  and  unaccountable  a 
resolution,  as  they  would  think  it ;  and  also,  the  scofiings, 
mockings,  derision,  scorn,  contempt,  loss  of  friends  and 
friendships  in  the  world,  with  such  other  inconveniences, 
hardships,  and  ill  consequences,  as  the  enemy  could  invent 
and  suggest. 

"  During  all  this  time,  from  about  eight  in  the  evening 
3 


18  THOMAS   STORY. 

till*  midnight,  the  eye  of  my  mind  was  fixed  on  the  love 
of  God,  which  still  remained  sensibly  in  me,  and  my  soul 
cleaved  thereto  in  great  simplicity,  humility,  and  trust 
therein,  without  any  yielding  to  Satan  and  his  reasonings 
on  those  subjects,  where  flesh  and  blood  in  its  own  strength 
is  easily  overcome  by  him.  But  about  twelve  at  night, 
the  Lord  put  him  to  utter  silence,  with  all  his  tempta- 
tions for  that  season,  and  the  life  of  the  Bon  of  God  alone 
remained  in  my  soul  ;  and  then,  from  a  sense  of  His  won- 
derful work  and  redeeming  arm,  this  saying  of  the  apostle 
arose  in  me  with  power,  '  The  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in 
Christ  Jesus  hath  made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and 
death.' 

"  Then  the  teachings  of  the  Lord  were  plentiful  and 
glorrous  ;  my  understanding  was  further  cleared,  and  His 
lioly  law  of  love  and  life  settled  in  me,  and  I  admitted 
into  sweet  rest  with  the  Lord  ray  Saviour,  and  given  u]i 
in  perfect  resignation  to  His  holy  will,  in  whatsoever 
might  relate  to  this  great  trial  of  ray  faith  and  obedience 
to  the  Lord.  In  the  morning  I  went  up  towards  the  hall 
where  the  judges  sat,  expecting  to  be  called  as  a  witness 
in  the  case  before  mentioned  ;  but  before  I  reached  the 
place,  I  saw  my  said  acquaintance  appi'oaching  me,  with 
an  air  in  his  countenance  denoting  friendship  and  affec- 
tion ;  and  when  met,  he  said,  'I  can  tell  you  good  news ; 
my  adversary  has  yielded  the  cause ;  we  are  agreed  to  my 
satisfaction.' 

"  Upon  this  I  stood  still  in  the  street,  and  reviewing  in 
my  mind  the  work  of  the  Lord  in  me  the  night  before,  as 
already  related,  this  scripture  came  fresh  into  my  remem- 
brance, in  the  life  of  it,  '  It  is  God  who  worketh  in  you, 
both  to  will  and  to  do  of  His  good  pleasure.'  I  was 
sensible  it  was  the  Lord's  doing,  and  accounted  it  a  great 
mercy  and  deliverance." 

While  still  a  young  man,  Thomas  Story  received  a  gift 


THOMAS    STOltY.  19 

in  the  luiuistiy  of  tlie  Gospel,  iu  which  he  labored  abun- 
dantly for  many  years  iu  various  parts  of  his  uative  country 
(Great  Britain),  and  iu  the  coutineut  of  America.  His 
useful  life  was  ended  iu  1742,  liy  an  attack  of  paralysis, 
and  "  he  departed  this  life,"  say  his  biographers,  "  in  per- 
fect peace,  we  have  great  reason  to  believe,  with  God  and 
mankind." 

His  experience,  as  shown  in  the  preceding  extracts,  was, 
in  some  respects,  of  an  uuusual  character ;  jDarticularly, 
iu  the  remarkable  exercise  he  passed  through,  when  he 
was  brought  to  cast  himself  wholly  on  the  Lord,  and 
favored  to  feel  the  sense  of  Divine  favor  and  forgiveness 
which  followed  this  heart-felt  submission.  For  true  it  is, 
as  he  observes,  that  the  Lord  varies  the  work  of  His  provi- 
dence according  to  the  states  and  conditions  of  those  to 
whom  His  visitations  are  extended.  Yet  it  is  instructive  to 
observe  how  Thomas  Story  was  eulighteued  by  Divine  Grace 
to  see  the  need  of  turning  from  sin,  and  of  passing  through 
the  indispensable  work  of  regeneration  ;  and  how  he  at- 
tributes the  awakening  of  the  desire  in  his  mind,  and  the 
carrying  on  of  the  work,  to  the  Word  of  Life  or  Spirit  of 
Clirist,  without  which  we  can  do  nothing  to  promote  our 
salvation.  In  these  points,  which  lie  at  the  f(nin(hition  of 
all  practical  religion,  his  experience  was  substantially  the 
same  as  that  of  all  true  Christians,  as  will  be  exemplified 
in  the  succeeding  narratives  of  this  collection.  It  is  in 
full  accordance  with  the  views  ever  held  by  the  Society  of 
Friends,  as  evinced  by  the  noble  testimony  borne  by 
Robert  Barclay :  "  Whatsoever  is  excellent,  whatsoever 
is  noble,  whatsoever  is  worthy,  whatsoever  is  desirable  in 
the  Christian  faith,  is  ascribed  to  this  Spirit,  without  which 
it  could  no  more  subsist  than  the  outward  world  without 
the  sun.  Hereunto  have  all  true  Christians,  in  all  ages, 
attributed  their  strength  and  life.  It  is  by  this  Sjiirit 
that  they  avouch  themselves  to  have  been  converted  to 


20  JOHN    KK'HAIiDSON. 

God,  to  have  beeu  redeemed  from  the  wurhl,  to  have  been 
strengthened  in  their  weakness,  comforted  in  their  afflic- 
tions, confirmed  iu  their  temptations,  emboldened  in  their 
sufferings,  and  triumphed  in  the  midst  of  all  their  perse- 
cutions." 


JOHN    RICHARD80K 

The  description  which  John  Richardson  gives  of  his 
growth  in  religion,  presents  a  lively  picture  of  the  work- 
ings of  that  Grace  which  brings  salvation,  by  purifying 
the  heart  and  making  it  a  lit  temple  for  the  indwelling  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  Like  Thomas  Story,  he  was  called  into 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  was  a  zealous  and  efficient 
laborer  in  the  Gospel.  His  Journal  contains  many  re- 
markable incidents,  which  illustrate  the  over-ruling  care 
of  Divine  Providence,  and  his  own  watchful  attention  to 
the  leadings  of  the  >Spirit  of  Christ.  He  died  in  the  year 
1753,  in  the  eighty-seventh  year  of  his  age;  and  the  testi- 
mony to  his  character  left  on  record  by  the  Friends  of 
York  Quarterly  Meeting,  England,  shows,  that  he  main- 
tained to  the  last  that  liveliness  of  Spirit  which  is  an  evi- 
dence of  continuing  to  be  a  branch  of  the  true  Vine. 
They  say,  "  To  divers  of  us  who  visited  him  towards  the 
close  of  his  time,  he  appeared  iu  a  heavenly  frame  of 
mind,  to  our  great  comfort,  evidencing  a  preparation  foi- 
that  eternal  bliss  whereuuto,  we  doubt  not,  he  is  entered, 
and  now  reaps  the  fruits  of  his  labors." 

He  says :— "  I  was  not  above  thirteen  years  of  age  when 
my  father  died,  yet  the  Lord  was  at  work  by  His  Light, 
Grace  and  Holy  Spirit  in  my  heart ;  but  I  knew  not  then 
what  it  was  which  inwardly  disquieted  my  mind,  when 
any  thing  which  was  evil  prevailed  over  the  good  in  me, 


JOHN    KieilAIiDSON. 


21 


which  it  ofteutimc\s  did,  for  waut  of  taking  heed  to  the 
►Spirit  of  God  in  my  heart.  I  desired  ease  and  peace  some 
other  way,  without  taking  up  the  cross  of  Ciirist  to  my 
own  corrupt  will ;  and  strove  for  some  time,  as  no  doubt 
many  do,  to  make  merry  over  the  just  witness,  until  for  a 
season  the  converting  and  true  witness  of  God  seemed  to 
be  slain,  or  disappeared.  Then  I  took  liberty,  but  not  in 
gross  evils  which  many  ran  into,  being  preserved  reli- 
giously inclined,  seeking  after  professors,  and  inquiring  ot 
them  for  my  information  and  satisfaction,  to  find,  if  I 
could,  anything  that  was  safe  to  rest  in,  or  any  true  and 
solid  comfort  to  my  poor,  disconsolate  and  bewildered 
soul.         '■■■         *         * 

"  After  much  searching  without,  amongst  those  who 
proved  to  me  physicians  of  no  value,  and  miserable  com- 
forters, I  betook  myself  to  a  lonesome  and  retired  life, 
breathing  after  and  seeking  the  Lord  in  the  fields  and 
private  places,  beseeching  Him,  that  He  would  bring  me 
to  the  saving  knowledge  of  His  truth  ;  and  blessed  be  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  now  and  forever,  T  had  not  sought  Him 
long  with  all  my  heart,  before  I  met  with  His  inward 
appearance  to  me,  in  and  by  His  Holy  Spirit,  Light  and 
Grace.  But  when  the  true  Light  did  begin  to  shine  more 
clearly,  and  the  living  witness  arose  in  my  inward  man, 
oh !  then  my  undone,  bewildered  and  miserable  condition 
Ijegan  to  appear,  and  great  and  unutterable  were  my  con- 
flicts and  distress,  f  thought  no  man's  condition  on  the 
face  of  the  earth  was  like  mine.  1  thought  I  was  not  fit 
to  die,  neither  did  I  know  how  to  live.  I  thought  in  the 
evening,  'oh,  that  it  was  morning!'  and  in  the  morning, 
'  that  it  was  evening !'  I  had  many  solitary  walks  in  the 
fields,  and  other  places,  in  whieh  I  poured  out  my  com- 
plaints and  cries  before  the  Lord,  with  fervent  supplica- 
tions to  Him,  that  He  would  look  upon  my  afHiction,  and 
the  strong  temptations  I  was  under,  and  that  He  would 
3* 


22  .JOHN  iiiciiAUDsox. 

rebuke  the  adversary  of  ray  soul,  aud  deliver  it,  for  I  eveu 
thought  it  was  in  the  jaws  of  a  devouring  lion,  and 
amongst  the  fiery  spirits,  and  as  it  were,  under  the  weight 
of  the  mountains.  Read  and  understand  the  afilictions  of 
thy  brother,  thou  that  hast  come  through  great  tribula- 
tions, and  hast  washed  and  made  thy  garments  white  in 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  This  is  tlie  beginning  of  that 
baptism  which  doth  save,  and  of  that  washing  of  regener- 
ation and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  the  Lord 
sheds  upon  the  believers  in  abundance.  This  is  the  blood 
which  spi'inkleth  the  heart  from  an  evil  conscience,  that 
the  children  of  men,  thus  changed,  may  serve  the  living 
aud  true  God  ;  this  is  the  life  which  converts  the  world, 
even  as  many  as  are  converted  ;  this  is  the  virtue,  life  and 
blood,  whicli  maketh  clean  the  saints'  garments,  and  in- 
wardly washeth  them  from  all  filthiness,  both  of  flesh  and 
spirit.         '^   ■      *         * 

"  I  now  came  to  witness  that  scripture  to  be  fulfilled 
which  saith,  that,  '  When  the  Lord's  judgments  are  in  the 
earth,'  or  earthly  hearts  of  men,  '  the  inhabitants  learn 
righteousness,'  and  notwithstanding  there  Avas  an  aversion 
in  my  wild  nature  to  the  people  in  scorn  called  Quakers, 
as  also  to  the  name  itself,  yet  when  the  aftlicting  hand  of 
the  Lord  was  upon  me  for  my  disobedience,  and  when, 
like  Ephraim  and  Judah,  I  saw  in  the  light  ray  hurt  and 
my  wound,  I  bemoaned  myself,  and  mourned  over  the 
just  principle  of  light  and  grace  in  rae,  Avhich  I  had 
pierced  with  my  sins  and  disobedience.  Although  that 
ministration  of  condemnation  was  glorious  in  its  time,  yet 
great  were  my  troubles,  which  humbled  my  mind,  and 
made  me  walling  to  deny  myself  of  every  thing,  which  the 
Light  made  known  in  me  to  be  evil,  I  being  in  great  dis- 
tress, and  w^auting  peace  and  assurance  of  the  love  of  God 
to  my  soul;  the  weight  of  which  so  humbled  my  mind, 
that  I  knew  Udt  of  any  calling,  people,  practice  or  priu- 


•loJlN    lacllAllDSOX,  '2o 

ciple,  that  \va.s  lawi'ul  aud  right,  which  I  could  not  em- 
brace, or  fall  in  with.  This  was  surely  like  the  day  of 
Jacob's  troubles  and  David's  fears.  I  saw  that  the  filth 
of  Zion  was  to  be  purged  away  by  the  Spirit  of  judgment 
and  of  burning  ;  this  is  the  way  of  the  deliverance  and  re- 
covery of  jDOor  men  out  of  the  fall,  and  the  time  of  the 
restoration  of  the  kingdom  to  God's  true  Israel.  Read  ye 
that  can  and  understand.  This  was  the  day  of  my  bap- 
tism into  the  love  of  God,  and  true  faith  in  His  beloved 
Son  as  also  into  a  feeling  of,  or  sympathy  with  Him  in 
His  sufferings,  which  w'ere  unutterable ;  and  I  found  that 
ministration  changed  ;  that  which  had  been  unto  death, 
was  now  unto  life  ;  and  the  ministration  which  was  of  con- 
demnation unto  the  first  birth,  when  that  was  slain,  aud 
in  a  good  degree  nailed  or  fastened  to  the  cross  of  Christ, 
the  power  of  (xod  ;  then  the  good  prevailed  over  the  evil, 
and  working  out  the  evil  in  the  mind,  and  also  in  the 
members,  made  all  good  or  holy.  The  Lord's  living- 
power  and  consuming  word,  when  it  works  and  prevails, 
brings  into  subjection,  and  niaketli  lioly  the  very  heart  or 
ground  in  men. 

"  As  there  had  been  an  aversion  in  me  to  the  peo})lc 
called  in  scorn  Quakers,  and  also  to  their  strict  living 
aud  demeanor,  plainness  of  habit  and  language,  so  1 
learned  none  of  these  from  them  ;  for  when  the  Lord 
changed  my  heart.  He  also  changed  my  thoughts,  words 
and  ways,  and  there  became  an  aversion  in  me  to  vice, 
sin  and  vanity,  as  there  had  been  to  the  ways  of  virtue. 
Having  tasted  of  the  terrors  and  judgments  of  God  be- 
cause of  siu,  I  was  warned  to  flee  from  such  things  as 
(jccasioned  Christ's  coming  not  to  bring  peace  upon  the 
earth,  but  a  sword  ;  a  sword  indeed,  yea,  His  heart-pene- 
trating, searching  word,  which  is  sharper  tiian  any  two- 
edged  sword,  that  pierceth  to  the  dividing  asunder  between 
flesh  and  spirit,  joints  and  inan'ow.     As  1  came  thus  lo  sec 


24  .JOHN    IMCIIAKDSON. 

aud  abhor  the  evil  in  myself,  wheu  ;^uch  who  had  been 
my  companious  iu  vanity  reviled  me,  or  came  iu  my  way, 
I  wa8  often  moved  to  warn  and  reprove  them.  Having 
tasted  of  the  terrors  of  the  Lord  for  sin,  I  could  not 
well  forbear  to  warii  others  to  flee  such  things  as  I  had 
been  judged  for.  Now  I  came  clearly  to  be  convinced 
about  hat  honor,  bowing  the  knee,  and  the  corrupt  lan- 
guage, as  well  as  finery  in  habit ;  all  which,  for  conscience' 
sake,  and  the  peace  thereof,  I  came  to  deny,  and  take  up 
the  cross  to,  and  had  great  peace  in  so  doing. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  blessed  truth  thus  prevailed  in 
me,  I  was  not  without  great  conflicts  of  spirit,  temptations, 
and  trials  of  divers  kinds  ;  yet  my  mind  was  resigned  to 
the  Lord,  and  my  fervent  prayers  were  to  Him,  and  He 
kept  me  and  opened  my  understanding,  for  I  was  afraid 
of  being  misled  in  anything,  especially  relating  to  my 
salvation.  I  came  to  be  weaned  from  all  companions 
and  lovers  in  whom  I  had  taken  delight,  and  all  things 
in  this  world  were  little  to  me,  my  mind  being  much  re- 
deemed out  of  the  world,  not  only  the  corrupt  aud  evil 
part  thereof,  but  even  from  the  lawful  part ;  so  that  I 
became  much  given  up  to  seek  the  Lord,  waiting  upon 
Him  to  feel  His  presence  and  peace,  and  to  know  His 
will,  and  receive  power  to  do  the  same. 

"  As  my  mind  came  to  be  thus  brought  into  a  depend- 
ent and  waiting  frame  upon  the  Lord,  aud  to  be  stayed  in 
the  Light,  and  experimentally  and  feelingly  to  partake 
of  His  love  aud  grace,  which  helped  me  against  my  in- 
firmities, blessed  be  His  name,  I  found  it  sutficient  for  me, 
as  I  kept  to  it,  iu  all  trials  and  temptations.  Then  I  came 
to  see  that  all  outward  performances  in  matters  of  religion 
did  not  avail  nor  render  man  acceptable  to  God,  but  as 
the  heart  came  to  be  truly  given  up  to  Him,  that  He  might 
not  only  })urge  it  from  defilement,  but  keep  it  clean 
through  the  indwelling  of  His  Holy  Spirit.     As  nearly  as 


.lOlIX    RICHARDSON.  "Jo 

1  remember,  I  saw  clearly  through  these  things  l)eture  the 
sixteenth  year  of  my  age." 

The  remark  of  John  Richardson,  when  speaking  of 
those  exercises  and  judgments,  he  was  made  to  pass 
through  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  that  it  was  the  time  of 
his  "baptism  into  the  love  of  God,  and  true  faith  in  His 
beloved  Son,"  is  in  accordance  wuth  the  testimony  of 
Scripture,  that  faith  is  given  by  the  Spirit.*  It  is  those 
only,  who  are  submissive  recipients,  and  co-workers  with, 
the  Grace  of  God  or  Spirit  of  Christ,  that  can  obtain  true 
and  living  faith,  and  thus  really  come  to  Christ.  George 
Fox,  a  few  years  before  his  death,  wrote  a  short  paper, 
''  directing  to  the  right  way  and  means,  whereby  people 
might  come  unto  Christ,"  in  which  he  says  :  "  Christ  saith, 
'  I  am  the  way,  the  truth  and  the  life  ;  no  man  cometh 
unto  the  Father  but  by  me.'  And  again,  '  No  man  eau 
come  to  me  except  the  Father  which  hath  sent  me  draw 
him.'  Now,  what  is  the  means  by  which  God  doth  draw 
people  to  His  Son,  but  by  His  Holy  Spirit,  who  '  poureth 
out  of  His  Spirit  upon  all  flesh,'  that  is,  all  men  and  women. 
*  *  They  that  mind  the  drawings  of  the  good  Spirit  of 
the  Father  to  His  Son,  the  Spirit  doth  give  them  under- 
standing to  know  God  and  Jesus  Christ,  which  is  eternal 
life." 

John  Richardson  thus  continues  his  narrative.  "  Some 
little  time  before  the  [second]  marriage  of  my  mother, 
I  was  brought  into  the  public  work  of  the  ministry, 
concerning  which  I  had  many  reasonings,  being  young, 
scarcely  eighteen  years  old,  and  naturally  of  a  stam- 
mering tongue.  But  after  my  many  conflicts,  troubles 
and  temptations,  the  worst  I  ever  met  with,  and  the 
most  piercing  sorrow  I  had  been  in  since  I  came  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  blessed  Truth,  was,  when  through  rea- 
sonings, disobedience,  and  an  unwillingness  to  comply 
*  1  Cor.  xii.  ;i. 


26  .JOHN    RICHARDSON, 

with  the  Lord's  requirings,  He  in  displeasure  took  away 
from  nie  the  comfort  of  His  holy  presence  for  several 
months  together.  Oh  !  the  tribulations  I  met  with  in  this 
condition  ?  I  could  scarcely  believe  I  .should  ever  have 
repentance  granted  to  me,  or  be  restored  to  the  love  and 
favor  of  God,  when  I  found  that  river  of  life  dried  up,  as 
to  me,  which  did  before,  not  only  make  me,  but  even  the 
whole  city  of  God,  truly  glad.  But  as  the  Lord  by  His 
judgments  had  brought  me  in  a  good  degree  from  the  vice 
and  vanity  of  this  world  ;  now  by  His  judgments  He  made 
me  willing  to  give  up  to  answer  His  requirings  in  part ; 
and  in  my  obedience  to  Him,  I  began  to  feel  some  com- 
fort of  love  and  fellowship  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  in 
myself,  and  in  His  people,  who  were  partakers  of  the  like 
fellowship." 

After  his  mother's  marriage,  John  removed  wntli  her  to 
the  house  of  his  step-father,  who  was  a  zealous  Presbyte- 
rian, and  much  opposed  to  his  going  to  the  meetings  of 
Friends.  John  .says  : — ■"  On  the  First-day  mornings  my 
father  commonly  sent  me  into  the  fields  a  mile  or  two  on 
foot,  and  as  far  upon  a  common  to  look  at  beasts,  horses 
and  sheej),  I  thought  with  a  design  to  weary  and  make 
me  incapable  of  going  to  meetings  ;  all  which  I  bore 
patiently,  neither  ever  said,  that  I  remember,  this  is  hard 
usage :  after  this,  to  the  great  grief  of  my  poor  mother, 
I  had  to  go  two,  three,  four,  five,  and  sometimes  six  miles, 
to  Friends'  meetings.  After  I  had  walked  fast,  and  ran 
sometimes  with  my  shoes  under  my  arms  for  want  of  time, 
I  have  seen  many  Friends  weep,  and  could  not  forbear, 
when  they  saw  me  come  into  the  meeting  very  hot  and  in 
a  great  sweat,  they  being  in  part  sensible  of  the  hard  task 
I  had  to  vmdergo." 

"Now  when  he  saw  that  neither  frowns,  threateuings, 
hardships,  nor  great  promises  of  kindness  could  prevail 
with  me  [to  decline  the  attendance  of  religious  meetings]. 


JOHN    RICHATJPSON.  2( 

he  told  me  bluntly  and  roughlj^,  I  should  stay  no  longer 
in  his  house.  I  innocently  answered,  I  could  not  help  it, 
if  it  must  be  so,  as  all  I  could  do  would  not  give  him  con- 
tent, without  hurting  my  conscience,  and  the  peace  of  my 
mind,  which  I  valued  above  all  mutable  things  of  this 
world. 

"Notwithstanding  I  pleaded  with  my  father  to  let  me 
stay  till  I  could  hear  of  a  place,  he  would  not,  though  I 
was  scarcely  fit  for  service,  being  almost  like  an  anatomy, 
as  the  saying  is,  so  that  most  who  knew  me,  said,  I  would 
pine  away  in  a  consumption  ;  but  turn  out  I  must,  and  did, 
though  I  was  weak,  poor  and  low  in  body,  mind,  pocket 
and  clothes ;  for  I  think  I  had  but  twelve  pence  in  my 
pocket,  and  very  ordinary  clothes  upon  my  back.  Thus 
r  took  my  solemn  leave  of  the  family  with  my  heart  full, 
but  I  kept  inward  to  the  Lord,  and  under  Truth's  govern- 
ment. I  came  out  on  the  great  common  where  I  had  had 
many  solitary  walks,  but  none  like  this,  for  this  reason, 
that  I  knew  not  where  to  go.  The  sense  of  my  weak  con- 
dition, not  knowing  whither  to  go,  nor  where  to  lay  my 
head,  came  over  me  to  that  degree,  that  it  appeared  to  me 
as  though  my  way  was  hedged  up  on  every  side,  inwardly 
and  outwardly.  1  looked  round  about  me  to  see  that  none 
were  near  to  see  my  tears,  nor  hear  my  cries,  and  in  the 
very  anguish  and  bitterness  of  my  soul,  I  ])ouj-cd  forth 
my  complaints,  ci'ies  and  tears,  to  the  Judge  of  all  the 
earth,  who  spoke  to  me  and  comforted  me  in  this  my  de- 
l)lorable  state.  The  Lord  said  unto  me  as  if  a  man  had 
spoke,  '  Seek  first  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  the  righte- 
ousness thereof,  and  all  these  things  that  thou  standest  in 
need  of  shall  be  given  unto  thee.'  I  then  desired  He 
would  be  pleased  to  show  me  the  place  I  should  go  to  ; 
and  the  Lord  opened  my  way,  and  showed  me  the  house 
I  shouhl  go  to,  and  abide  in  for  a  time.  I  said.  Good  is 
llif  word   of  the    f jord  :    T   believed,   imd    it    was   a    great 


28  CHRISTOPHER   STORY. 

means  to  stay  my  miud,  and  settle  it  in  the  Truth,  with 
full  purpose  of  heart  to  follow  the  Lord  and  obey  His 
requirings,  according  to  the  knowledge  and  ability  given 
me.  Soon  after  I  came  to  the  Friend's  house  in  South- 
CAiff,  viz. ,  William  Allen  by  name,  I  bound  myself  to 
him  to  learn  his  trade  of  a  weaver,  and  after  I  was  bound, 
I  found  this  good  man  loved  me,  and  I  loved  him  to  the 
day  of  his  death ;  he  often  said,  he  was  blessed  for  my 
sake,  and  all  that  appertained  to  him  ;  for  he  was  very 
poor,  but  increased  very  considerably  after  I  went  to  live 
with  him." 

As  the  object  of  this  little  work  is  rather  to  point  out 
the  way  in  which  those  of  whom  it  speaks  became  settled 
and  established  as  living  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ, 
than  to  narrate  the  varied  incidents  of  their  subsequent 
lives,  it  is  not  needful  to  quote  more  from  the  very  in- 
teresting journal  which  John  Richardson  has  left  behind 
him. 


CHRISTOPHER    STORY. 

Of  Christopher  Story,  whose  residence  was  in  Cumber- 
land, England,  his  widow  says,  that  when  the  Lord  was 
pleased  to  open  his  understanding,  "  he  willingly  bowed 
under  the  yoke  of  Christ,  and  took  up  his  daily  cross,  and 
thereby  became  a  disciple  and  follower  of  Him.  The  Lord 
having  prepared  him  for  His  service,  in  His  own  time  en- 
dued him  with  a  gift  of  the  ministry,  and  continuing  in 
faithfulness  both  in  doing  and  in  suffering,  which  soon  fell  to 
his  lot,  he  became  very  serviceable  amongst  his  brethren." 
One  of  his  fellow-laborer.s  in  the  gospel,  who  looked  up  to 
him  as  a  spiritual  father,  mentions  that  he  visited  him  in 
his  last  illness,  and  adds,  "  I  found  him  well  in  the  Lord, 


CHRISTOPHER    STORY.  20 

aud  had  true  uuity  with  him  ;  aud  1  am  s«ati:;ticd  he  is 
entered  into  everlasting  rest."  His  death  occurred  in  the 
year  1720.     His  own  account  is  as  follows: 

"  Amongst  the  many  thousands  of  the  disobedient  and 
rebellious,  unto  whom  the  Lord  in  His  love  and  un- 
speakable kindness,  extended  mercy,  in  and  through  His 
dear  Son,  Christ  Jesus,  I  was  one  whom  the  Lord  called 
by  His  grace  when  I  was  young  in  years,  and  preserved 
me  from  many  evils,  to  which  I  was  prone  as  well  as 
others.  I  scarcely  knew  it  was  the  Lord,  but  felt  there 
was  something  near  me  and  with  me  from  a  child,  that 
inclined  my  heart  to  seek  after  the  Lord,  and  to  read  the 
holy  Scriptui'es.  As  I  grew  up  to  years  of  understanding, 
I  was  sober  and  more  moderate  than  some  others,  though 
the  place  of  my  abode  was  in  the  border  of  England, 
wdiere  wickedness  of  the  grossest  sort  had  swelled  to  that 
height,  that  theft,  robbery  and  bloodshed,  with  many 
other  crying  sins,  were  so  frequent,  that  hell  (in  that 
sense)  had  opened  her  mouth  ;  the  remembrance  of  which 
much  affects  my  heart  with  sorrow.  When  I  think  of 
such  as  are  gone,  who  were  but  an  age  before  me  and  seve- 
ral others,  that  are  largely  made  partakers  of  the  mercy 
of  God  ;  that  the  Lord  in  His  free  love  should  pluck  us 
as  brands  out  of  the  fire,  and  preserve  us  from  those  gross 
evils  which  generations  before  us  were  found  in,  I  feel  is 
an  obligation  never  to  be  forgotten. 

"  As  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  get  Himself  a  name  in 
the  earth,  in  calling  us  to  be  a  people  to  His  praise,  who 
were  as  the  outcasts  of  the  nation,  He  began  to  work  in 
the  hearts  of  a  young  generation,  when  but  tender  in  age, 
of  which  I  was  one  ;  and  though  we  were  short  of  having 
an  eye  unto  the  Lord  in  all  oui-  undertakings,  yet  He  was 
not  short  in  having  an  eye  over  us  for  good.  I  wjis  brought 
up  in  a  public  house,  ray  father  and  mother  keeping  an 
inn  where  people  of  many  sorts  resorted,  yet  the  Lord 


30  CHEISTOPHER    STORY. 

preserved  me  beyond  many  from  the  sin  of  drunkenness, 
and  the  excessive  smoking  of  tobacco  I  never  loved. 

"  Yet  as  I  grew  in  years,  I  was  drawn  after  the  vain 
pastimes  which  are  in  the  world  ;  as  shooting  with  guns 
and  bows,  and  following  them  that  played  at  cards,  and  I 
was  successful  in  playing,  and  my  mind  as  much  taken 
with  that  foolish  practice  as  most  things.  For  this  the 
Lord  gave  me  a  sore  rebuke  in  myself,  that  I  was  sensible 
of  trouble  of  conscience  for  many  days,  and  was  consult- 
ing with  myself  what  to  do,  not  knowing  of  one  man  Avho 
judged  the  thing  unlawful  to  be  done.  The  old  enemy 
appeared  in  my  heart  and  brought  a  fair  pretence  with 
him,  viz  :  that  I  might  safely  play  at  any  time  except 
the  First-days  at  night,  being  a  practice  amongst  us  ;  and 
this  gave  me  a  little  ease  for  a  time ;  and  I  observed  it. 
Then  a  fear  entered  my  mind  that  I  durst  not  join  with 
young  people  in  their  pastimes,  and  light  began  more  to 
appear,  and  I  saw  we  must  be  more  religious  than  for- 
merly ;  but  the  enemy  would  suggest  to  me  that  I  was 
young,  and  might  live  long,  and  it  was  time  enough  for 
me  to  be  religious  when  I  was  married";  and  here  I  rested 
for  some  years,  though  often  under  trouble,  believing  I 
must  live  more  godly,  or  otherwise  I  coiild  not  enter  God's 
kingdom. 

"  When  I  was  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  my  father 
and  mother  were  desirous  I  should  marry  a  young  woman, 
whose  parents  were  of  good  repute  in  the  country ;  and  a 
weighty  concern  it  was  to  me,  and  under  the  sense  thereof 
I  prayed  to  the  Lord  in  the  night  season,  '  that  if  it  were 
for  our  good  it.  might  come  to  pass,  and  if  not,  it  might  not 
be  so.'  About  this  time  my  heart  came  to  be  more  and 
more  opened,  and  I  saw  the  danger  of  poverty  and  riches, 
and  at  a  certain  time,  I  retired,  and  the  saying  of  the  wise 
man  came  into  my  remembrance,  and  I  prayed  to  the 
Lord  to-  give  me  neither  poverty  nor  riches,  for  I  saw 


OHRISTUPHEK    STORY.  31 

there  was  danger  ou  both  hauds ;  aud  though  I  desired  to 
keep  company  with  those  that  were  most  sober,  yet  I  was 
often  under  great  affliction  of  mind. 

"  When  I  was  at  auy  time  with  the  profane,  if  I  par- 
took of  their  joy  at  night,  sorrow  came  in  the  morning. 
While  I  remained  here,  a  great  fever  being  in  the  coun- 
try, and  many  dying,  when  it  entered  my  house,  and  my 
wife  was  taken  ill  of  it,  I  was  persuaded  to  go  to  a  woman 
who  was  blind,  aud  pretended  she  could  do  great  things. 
I  inquired  of  her  if  I  should  take  the  distemper,  she  being 
one  wh(j  undertook  to  tell  what  would  come  to  pass :  she 
told  me,  no,  aud  I  believed  her,  but  when  the  Lord 
visited  me  with  sickness,  my  disobedience  on  the  one  hand, 
and  my  believing  her,  which  I  looked  upon  as  distrusting 
God,  on  the  other,  brought  such  horror  aud  trouble  of 
mind  upon  me,  that  I  concluded  if  I  should  then  die 
there  were  no  hopes  of  mercy  for  me.  My  mother  being 
in  great  trouble  for  me,  would  have  comforted  me  with 
this,  that  I  exceeded  othei's  in  my  life  and  conversation, 
but  I  could  not  believe  there  was  any  favor  at  the  Lord's 
hand  for  me,  except  He  should  restore  me  to  my  health, 
aud  I  become  a  new  mau.  I  saw  I  was  not  to  regard 
soothsayers,  or  such  as  pretend  to  tell  things  to  come, 
they  themselves  being  out  of  the  life  of  righteousness. 
Under  this  great  distress  and  anguish  of  soul,  I  cried 
mightily  uuto  the  Lord,  that  He  would  spare  me  yet 
awhile  ;  and  that  saying  came  into  my  mind,  'the  prayer 
of  the  righteous  availeth  much  ;'  and  knowing  not  but 
the  priest  might  be  one  of  them  whom  the  Lord  would 
hear,  1  had  a  mind  he  should  come.  When  he  came,  he 
wanted  his  book,  and  could  uot  pray,  so  that  I  was  dis- 
appointed ;  but  may  say,  though  all  other  helps  failed, 
yet  the  Lord  never  failed,  for  He  was  pleased  to  i-estore 
me,  and  when  restored,  inclined  my  heart  to  seek  after 
Him.     I  thought  it  my  duty  often  to  i)ray  to  the  Lord  in 


32  CHRrSTOPHER    STORY. 

secret  places,  to  show  me  His  way,  wherein  I  should  walk, 
for  I  was  satisfied  I  was  out  of  the  way ;  because  of  the 
trouble  of  mind  I  was  under.  As  prayer  seemed  to  me 
to  be  a  dut)^  I  thought  it  my  place  to  wait  upon  the  Lord, 
to  feel  what  would  open  on  my  mind  to  supplicate  the  Lord 
for,  and  not  to  pray  in  form  ;  but  having  little  answer  of 
'  well  done'  I'rom  the  Lord,  I  grew  weary,  and  became 
more  and  more  formal  in  my  prayers,  and  my  distress  in- 
creased. Then  I  began  to  doubt  that  I  had  not  been  so 
diligent  as  I  should  have  been  in  my  devotion  in  the  time 
of  our  worship,  though  I  frequently  went ;  so  I  resolved 
for  the  time  to  come,  I  would  go  to  church  with  the  first, 
and  hear  and  observe  every  word  the  priest  said.  But 
I  saw  all  that  I  could  do  signified  little  ;  and  I  was  not 
to  sing,  neither  durst  I  oi)en  my  mouth  as  others  did,  but 
sat  solitarily.  Then  the  Lord  showed  me  the  effects  of 
the  priests'  ministry.  They  could  tell  what  sin  was,  and 
what  would  be  the  reward  of  the  righteous  ;  and  what 
would  be  the  reward  of  the  wicked  ;  but  how  to  come  out 
of  sin,  which  was  the  thing  I  wanted  to  know,  they  left 
me  at  a  loss,  and  this  lessened  their  esteem  in  my  view." 

While  in  this  inquiring  state  of  mind,  C.  Story  attended 
a  meeting  at  which  Kobert  Barclay  was  present,  who,  he 
says,  "  spoke  the  word  of  Truth  excellently  to  the  people,  so 
that  I  could  have  said,  amen,  to  several  things  ;  and 
amongst  the  rest,  he  said,  '  If  a  man  could  begin  at  Genesis, 
and  repeat  all  the  Scriptures  to  the  end  of  Revelations, 
and  was  not  led  and  guided  by  a  measure  of  that  Spirit  by 
which  the  Scrij)tures  were  given  forth,  it  would  avail  him 
nothing.'      Then  I  saw  all  that  I  had  availed  nothing." 

"  Being  come  home,  and  under  great  exercise  what  to 
do,  I  searched  the  Scriptures — read  much,  and  wanted  to 
be  informed  concerning  many  things  that  Friends  held. 
In  this  time  Friends  appointed  another  meeting  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  my  abode,  and  I  had  many  serious 


CHRISTOPHER    STORY.  -33 

thoughts  what  to  do.  At  last  I.  resolved  I  would  go  to 
the  meeting,  and  get  near  the  puhlie  Friends,  and  hear 
every  word  they  said  ;  and  if  I  liked  them  well,  I  would 
invite  them  to  my  house,  on  purpose  to  discourse  with 
them  privately  about  several  things.  *  *  The  meeting 
day  came  and  many  people  flocked  to  the  meeting,  and  I 
was  diligent  to  hear  the  testimony  of  Truth. 

"  Thomas  Carletou,  a  man  of  sw'eet  countenance  (as  I 
remember)  spake  concerning  the  Spirit  of  truth  being 
come,  that  eonvinceth  the  world  of  sin,  and  that  this  if 
taken  heed  unto,  would  lead  out  of  all  sin  ;  of  which  words 
I  was  heartily  glad,  for  I  said  in  myself,  '  I  have  felt  that 
from  a  child  which  condemned  me  for  sin ;  and  if  this  be 
sufiicient  to  lead  out  of  sin,  it  is  what  I  have  long  wanted." 

The  ministering  Friends  having  gone  home  with  C. 
Story,  he  and  some  of  his  neighbors  wrote  out  some  queries 
on  religious  subjects  to  present  to  them.  He  says : 
"  When  the  Friend  perceived  what  we  aimed  at,  Thomas 
Carletou  being  pretty  quick  and  expert  in  answering 
questions,  called  for  a  Bible,  and  did  uot  so  much  argue 
with  us,  as  endeavor  to  let  us  see  what  the  Scripture  said, 
putting  us  gently  by,  for  we  were  much  for  arguing :  we 
parted  pretty  well  satisfied." 

By  the  advice  of  their  friends,  C.  Story  and  others 
who  were  convinced  in  that  neighborhood,  agreed  to  meet 
together  for  Divine  worship,  and  though  there  was  then 
no  minister  among  them,  he  says,  ho  felt  his  "  inward 
man  renewed  in  a  sense  of  the  Lord's  nearness." 

"  Some  years  after  our  convincement,  being  met  in  the 
house  of  Christopher  Taylor  to  wait  upon  the  Lord,  His 
power  and  presence  in  a  wonderful  manner  overshadowed 
us  in  our  sitting  together  ;  and  there  was  much  brokcn- 
ness  and  tenderness  on  the  spirits  of  Friends,  which 
spread  over  the  whole  meeting,  except  three  or  four  per- 
sons who  sat  dry,  and  they  proved  not  well.  I  being  near 
4* 


34  GII.BERT    LATEY. 

the  door  saw  nitiny  in  the  room  filled,  before  the  power  of 
the  Lord  reached  me,  yet  the  Lord,  in  His  free  love  and 
mercy,  was  pleased  to  give  me  such  a  share  among  my 
brethren,  that  my  heart  is  always  glad  when  I  remember 
that  season  of  God's  love,  though  now  upwards  of  twenty 
years  ago.  And  though  we  were  at  times  plentifully  fed 
with  that  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven,  and  sat 
together  at  the  Lord's  table,  where  the  wing  of  His  power 
was  known  to  overshadow  us ;  yet  at  other  times  the  Lord 
tried  us  with  want ;  and  at  a  certain  time  it  entered  my 
mind  as  a  weighty  consideration,  why  it  should  be  thus, 
we  being  the  same  people,  and  sometimes,  had  very  good 
and  comfortable  meetings,  and  were  sometimes  very  dry 
and  barren  in  oui-  meeting  together.  As  I  was  thus  con- 
cerned in  my  mind,  it  opened  to  me  that  there  should  be 
seed  time  and  harvest,  summer  and  winter,  unto  the  end 
of  the  world.  So  I  saw  clearly  there  were  times  to  abound, 
and  times  to  suffer  want ;  and  I  desired  to  rest  satisfied 
in  the  will  of  God.  As  we  sojourned  here,  desiring  no- 
thing more  than  to  follow  the  Lord  fully,  He  not  only 
led  us  out  of  the  gross  evils  which  are  in  the  world,  but 
out  of  the  customs  and  fashions  that  are  evil.  So  that  we 
were  singled  out  from  the  world  in  everything  we  saw  to 
be  needless  and  superfluous ;  and  the  fame  of  truth  spread, 
and  our  meetings  w'ere  large,  and  the  exercise  of  the  faith- 
ful was  to  draw  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  Lord." 


GILBERT    LATEY. 

Gilbert  Latey  was  a  prominent  Friend  of  London,  in 
the  early  days  of  that  religious  Society.  He  was  one 
whose  heart  was  often  deeply  affected  with  sympathy  for 
the  sufferings  of  his  innocent  brethren  in  religious  profes- 


GILBERT    T.ATEY. 


35 


sion  who  were  plundered  of  their  goods,  exposed  to  per- 
sonal abuse, -and  made  to  endure  long  imprisonments  in 
filthy  jails,  for  their  faithfulness  in  meeting  to  perform 
Divine  worship,  and  in  other  ways  upholding  the  pure 
Gospel  principles  of  which  they  had  been  convinced  by 
the  Light  of  Christ.  Being  known  to  many  persons  of 
power  and  influence  in  the  State ;  and  being  greatly  re- 
spected for  his  upright,  amiable  and  consistent  character; 
his  earnest  and  persevering  labors  for  the  relief  of  those 
thus  afflicted  were  often  blessed  with  success. 

"  In  all  these  engagements,"  says  his  biographer,  "  he  kept 
to  and  bore  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  which  he 
was  crucified  to  the  world  ;  and  his  great  self-denial  was 
taken  notice  of  and  beloved  ;  insomuch  that  an  eminent 
Friend  and  minister  of  Christ  [William  Penn  ?],  in  one  of 
the  former  reigns,  being  then  in  another  nation,  having 
great  interest  among  the  men  at  Court  and  attending  there 
often,  meeting  with  a  Friend  one  day,  told  him  he  had 
been  at  Court,  and  that  of  all  the  men  among  Friends, 
that  he  ever  knew  or  heard  of,  he  never  followed  a  man 
that  had  a  sweeter  character  than  Gilbert  Latey  had  at 
Court." 

It  is  recorded  of  Gilbert  Latey,  that  ho  was  of  a  sober 
life  and  conversation,  and  having  breathings  in  his  heart 
after  the  Lord,  followed  those  who  were  of  the  best  repute, 
and  esteemed  to  be  the  most  zealous  pastors  and  preachers 
in  that  time,  often  hearing  four  sermons  in  a  day,  and 
being  frequent  in  private  prayer.  Tin;  Lord  beholding 
the  integrity  of  his  heart,  prospered  him  in  such  a  manner, 
that  he  grew  into  great  reputation  in  the  world  ;  having 
much  business  in  his  trade  as  a  tailor,  and  being  employed 
and  respected  by  persons  of  the  first  rank  in  the  kingdom. 
But,  through  all  these  outward  enjoyments,  his  desires 
were  still  to  find  peace  with  the  Lord  ;  and  in  this  seek- 
iuL^  condition  he  went  to  hear  those  who  seemed  the  most 


36  GILBERT    LATEY, 

refined,  and  from  one  of  them  to  the  other,  seeking  the 
living  among  the  dead,  yet  among  them  all  he  could  not 
find  his  soul's  beloved.  While  thus  breathing  and  seek- 
ing after  the  truth,  it  was  made  known  to  him  about  the 
year  1654,  that  some  men  who  were  come  out  of  the  North, 
were  to  have  a  meeting  at  the  house  of  Sarah  Matthews, 
a  widow,  who  lived  in  White-Cross  street,  [London].  He 
repaired  thither,  and  having  heard  the  truth  declared  by 
that  eminent  minister  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Edward 
Burrough,  was  so  reached  by  the  power  of  the  Lord,  that 
he  was  convinced  ;  and  being  directed  to  the  Light  of 
Christ  in  himself,  and  not  consulting  with  flesh  and  blood, 
he  gave  up  to  the  leadings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  greatly  re- 
joicing that  he  had  found  his  soul's  beloved,  and  resolv- 
ing, through  the  Lord's  assistance,  to  take  up  his  cross 
and  despise  the  shame,  accounting  all  things  but  as  dross 
that  he  might  win  Christ. 

"  Having  enlisted  himself  under  the  banner  of  the  Lord, 
made  profession  of  His  blessed  Truth,  and  taken  up  the 
cross,  despising  the  shame,  bearing  scorn  and  reproach,  it 
pleased  the  Lord  to  bring  a  trial  upon  him,  like  the  cut- 
ting off"  the  right  hand,  or  pulling  out  the  right  eye.  For 
being  still  in  great  business  in  the  world,  and  concerned 
with  persons  of  considerable  rank,  who  would  have  their 
apparel  set  off"  with  much  cost  and  superfluities  of  lace 
and  ribbons,  he  came  under  a  conscientious  concern  not 
to  meddle  therewith,  nor  suffer  his  servants  to  j^ut  it  on  ; 
which  made  some  say  he  was  mad.  Upon  his  refusing  to 
be  concerned  in  this  superfluous  part,  the  great  people  left 
him,  and  his  trade  decayed  so,  that  having  a  great  many 
servants,  he  was  forced  to  part  with  them  ;  not  knowing  but 
he,  who  lately  had  such  a  great  business  and  so  many 
servants,  might  now  himself  be  a  servant  to  some  of  the 
trade,  and  work  at  day  labor  for  his  bread.  This  was  a 
close  trial ;  but  he  patiently  waited  the  Lord's  season  ; 


GILBERT    I.ATEY.  37 

though  despised  even  of  his  own  mother's  childreu,  aud  as 
it  were  banished  from  his  father's  house ;  yet  he  chose  to 
leave  all  rather  thau  to  lose  his  peace  with  the  Lord.  And 
He,  ^Yho  never  foisakes  those  who  trust  in  Him,  was  his 
support,  bore  up  |^is  spirit  through  all  his  exercises,  and 
enabled  him  to  be  resigned  and  contented  in  His  will." 

As  Gilbert  Latey  was  thus  concerned  to  manifest  the 
sincerity  of  his  determination,  to  "Seek  first  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  and  the  righteousness  thereof,"  he  experienced 
the  fulfilment  of  the  blessing  attached  thereto ;  and  his 
subsequent  history  clearly  shows  that  he  possessed  con- 
siderable property.  In  speaking  of  the  fines  to  which 
Friends  were  subjected  for  meeting  together  for  Divine 
worship,  his  biographer  says  : — "  Being  a  man  of  [pecu- 
niary] ability,  the  justices  and  informers  were  willing, 
when  they  had  opportunity,  to-fix  what  they  were  permit- 
ted to  take,  either  by  law  or  otherwise,  upon  him,"  by 
reason  of  which  there  were  at  one  time  warrants  against 
him  for  several  hundred  pounds ;  but  the  Lord  being 
good  to  him,  even  as  to  His  servant  of  old,  made  the  ene- 
mies ready  to  say,  as  their  master  did,  '  Doth  he  serve 
God  for  nought;  hath  He  not  set  a  hedge  about  him,  and 
all  that  he  hath?'  For  notwithstanding  their  contriv- 
ance aud  subtilty,  the  Lord  preserved  both  him  and 
what  he  had,  that  the  destroyers'  power  was  always  in 
measure  limited  ;  for  which  to  the  great  God  belongs  the 
praise." 

He  faithfully  bore  his  testimony  to  the  Lord  and  His 
cause,  during  the  times  of  severe  persecution,  and  shared 
with  his  brethren  in  imprisonment  therefor.  In  his  old 
age,  he  would  often  say  to  his  wife,  that  he  had  done  the 
work  of  his  day  faithfully,  and  was  sat  down  in  the  will 
of  God,  and  felt  His  peace  to  abound  in  liini.  He  often 
mentioned  that  he  waited  the  Lord^s  call  and  time  of 
being  removed,  and  that  there  was  no  cloud  in  his  way, 


50  JANE    HOSKINS. 

for  the  Lord  was  good  to  him.  This  heavenly  frame  of 
miuil  continued  to  the  last ;  and  a  few  hours  before  his 
death  he  said  to  those  about  him,  that  "  There  was  no  con- 
demnation to  them  that  were  in  Christ  Jesus ;"  for,  said  he, 
"  He  is  the  lifter  up  of  iny  head,  He  is  my  strength  and 
great  salvation." 


JANE    HOSKINS. 

Jane  Hoskins  was  born  in  London,  in  the  year  1694. 
She  was  brought  up  in  a  religious  manner  in  connection 
with  the  Church  of  England.  When  about  sixteen  years 
of  age,  she  was  visited  with  a  severe  fit  of  sickness,  which, 
she  says,  "  reduced  me  very  low  both  in  body  and  mind; 
for  the  terrors  of  the  Almighty  took  hold  of  my  soul,  and 
then  was  brought  into  my  remembrance  all  my  sins  and 
mis-spent  time,  as  well  as  the  good  counsel  my  dear  parents 
had  tenderly  given  me,  which  I  had  unhappily  disregarded. 
In  this  distressed  condition  I  shed  many  tears,  making  my 
moan  to  Him,  who  is  the  helper  of  His  people  in  the 
needful  time ;  and  was  ready  to  make  covenant,  that  if 
He  in  mercy  would  be  pleased  to  spare  me  a  little  longer, 
the  remaining  part  of  my  days  should  be  dedicated  to  His 
service ;  and  it  was  as  though  it  had  been  spoken  to  me, 
'  if  I  restore  thee,  go  to  Pennsylvania.'  To  which  the 
answer  of  my  soul  was,  '  wherever  Thou  pleasest.'  This 
opening  appeared  strange  to  me  at  that  time ;  but  all  I 
wanted  then,  was  peace  of  mind  and  health  of  body. 
However,  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  raise  me  up  from  this 
low  condition,  and  I  as  soon  forgot  the  promises  I  had 
made  in  deep  distress,  and  returning  again  to  my  old 
amusements,  endeavored  thereby  to  stifle  the  witness  of 
God,  which  had  bseu  raised  in  me. 


JANE    HOSKINS.  30 

"  But  He,  who  iu  tender  mercy  strives  long  with  the 
cliildreu  of  men,  and  would  not  that  any  should  be  lost, 
followed  me  in  judgment,  and  often  when  alone  brought 
me  under  great  condemnation,  so  that  I  was  made  to  cry 
for  strength  to  overcome  the  evils  which  so  easily  beset 
me.  Then  Pennsylvania  came  again  into  my  mind ;  but  as 
I  was  much  delighted  with  outward  objects,  and  strongly 
attached  to  such  things  as  were  pleasing  to  my  natural 
temper,  so  the  cross  of  Christ  was  thereby  made  great  iu 
appearance  to  me,  and  I  would  reason  thus  ;  'What  shall 
I  do  in  a  strange  country,  separated  from  the  enjoyment 
of  all  my  relations  and  friends  ?'  But  on  a  certain  time 
it  was  said  in  my  soul,  '  Go;  there  shalt  thou  meet  with 
such  of  my  people  as  will  be  to  thee  in  the  place  of  near 
connexions ;  and  if  thou  wilt  be  faithful,  I  will  be  with 
thee.'  This  w'as  spoken  to  me  in  such  power,  that  I  was 
broken  into  tears,  and  said,  'Lord,  I  will  obey.'  " 

Though  she  was  hindered  for  a  time  by  the  opposition 
of  her  parents  and  friends,  as  well  as  by  her  own  unwil- 
lingness to  go  into  a  strange  country,  yet  these  obstacles 
were  removed,  and  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  her  age  she 
came  to  Philadelphia.  As  this  step  was  taken  in  otiedi- 
ence  to  the  requirings  of  her  heavenly  Master,  she  says, 
"  I  felt  His  good  presence  near  to  me ;  and  an  eye  being 
opened  in  me  toward  Him,  I  became  weaned  from  the 
gaieties,  pleasures  and  delights  of  this  fading  Avorld  ;  they 
AVerc  all  stained  in  my  view,  and  an  ardent  thirst  to  par- 
take of  the  waters  of  life  and  salvation  of  God  took  place 
in  my  mind.  I  loved  solitude, — sought  retirement — and 
embraced  all  opportunities  of  attending  Divine  Service, 
so  called,  having  free  liberty  from  those  among  whom  I 
lived  so  to  do,  they  being  very  kind  to  me;  but  still  T 
found  not  that  solid  peace  and  satisfaction  to  my  seeking 
soul,  which  I  wanted.     The  reason  hereof,  as  I  have  since 


40  JANE    HOSKINS. 

experienced,  was,  because  I  sought  the  living  among  the 
dead,  as  too  many  do." 

About  this  time  she  was  brought  under  severe  trials  of 
an  outward  character,  and  the  way  opened  for  her  to  settle 
in  Plymouth,  as  a  teacher  to  the  children  of  some  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Friends  who  were  living  there.  Of 
her  employers,  she  thus  speaks :  "  After  I  had  been  some- 
time among  them,  and  took  notice  of  their  way  and  man- 
ner of  performing  Divine  worship  to  God,  I  was  ready  to 
conclude  and  say.in  my  mind,  surely  those  are  His  people ; 
and  a  brave,  living  people  they  really  were ;  there  being 
divers  worthies  among  them,  who  I  believe  are  now  in 
the  fruition  of  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory,  the 
earnest  of  which,  they,  through  mercy,  then  at  times  par- 
took of,  to  the  satisfaction  of  their  hungry  and  thirsty 
souls.  The  solid,  weighty  and  tender  frame  of  spirit  some 
of  them  were  many  times  favored  with  in  meetings,  brought 
serious  considerations  over  my  mind,  with  this  query; 
Why  is  it  not  so  with  me  ?  And  I  said  in  my  heart, 
these  people  are  certainly  better  than  I  am,  notwithstand- 
ing I  have  made  a  great  deal  more  to  do  about  religion 
than  they. 

"As  I  was  pondering  on  these  things,  the  saying  of  the 
apostle,  '  that  circumcision  or  uncircumcision  avails  no- 
thing, but  a  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus,'  was  often 
brought  to  my  mind.  I  saw  this  work  must  begin  in  the 
heart  and  be  carried  on  by  a  Divine  power.  This  I  was 
soon  convinced  of,  and  therefore  could  wait  with  patience, 
though  in  silence.  But  yet  the  whole  work  was  not  com- 
pleted, it  went  on  gradually,  stej)  by  step,  which  demon- 
strates the  paternal  care  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  carry- 
ing the  lambs  in  his  arms,  lest  they  should  be  weary  and 
faint!  Who  can  but  admire  His  goodness,  and  celebrate 
His  praise  ?  His  wisdom  and  power  are  great.  Oh  !  that 
all  would  but  dwell  under  His  peaceable  government,  and 


JANE    HOSKIXS.  41 

learu  of  Him  wliu  is  pure  and  lioly.  Through  the  opcru- 
tiou  of  Divine  Goodness,  great  love  was  begotten  in  my 
heart  to  these  people ;  and  if  at  any  time  Friends  were 
concerned  to  speak  against  any  evil  habit  of  the  mind,  I 
did  not  put  it  from  me,  but  was  willing  to  take  my  part, 
and  have  sometimes  thought  it  all  belonged  to  me. 

"As  I  continued  in  this  humble  frame,  and  was  diligent 
in  attending  meeting  when  I  could.  Infinite  Goodness  was 
graciously  pleased  to  favor  me  with  a  fresh  and  lai-ge 
visitation  of  His  heavenly  love,  and  often  tendered  my 
spirit  and  begot  strong  desires  after  true  and  saving  know- 
ledge, and  that  the  way  of  life  and  salvation  might  be 
clearly  demonstrated  ;  and  blessed  be  His  eternal  name, 
He  heard  ray  cries  and  was  pleased  to  send  His  servants 
both  male  and  female,  filled  with  life  and  power,  who 
sounded  forth  the  gospel  in  Divine  authority,  declaring 
the  way  to  the  Father  through  the  door  of  Christ,  and 
opening  the  principles  of  these  people,  by  turning  our  minds 
inward  to  the  pure  gift  and  manifestation  of  the  Spirit. 

"  This  doctrine  agreeing  with  what  I  had  in  some  mea- 
sure been  convinced  of,  I  was  made  willing  to  join  heartily 
with  it,  and  was  ready  to .  say,  these  are  true  ministers  of 
Christ,  for  they  spoke  with  Divine  })ower  and  authority, 
and  not  as  the  scribes.  Now  I  was  mightily  reached  unto, 
and  stripped  of  all  self-righteousness,  and  my  state  was 
opened  to  me  in  such  a  manner,  that  I  was  (piite  c(m- 
founded,  and  concluded  that  tliough  I  could  talk  of  reli- 
gion, of  being  made  a  child  of  God,  a  member  of  His 
church,  and  an  inheritor  of  His  holy  kingdom,  there  was 
as  much  need  as  ever  to  cry.  Lord,  have  mercy  on  me  a 
poor  sinner  !  not  having  yet  witnessed  the  law  of  the 
spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus,  to  set  me  free;  from  the  law 
of  sin  and  death.  Outwax'd  ceremonies  availed  nothing, 
the  new  birth  was  wanting  and  must  be  witnessed  in  order 
to  prepare  me  for  the  work  whereuuto  the  Lord  had 
o 


42  JANE    HOSKINS. 

called  me,  and  was  about  to  engage  me  in.  The  baptism 
of  the  Spirit  was  to  be  known  before  I  could  be  a  mem- 
ber of  Christ's  church  :  this  great  work  I  saw,  by  Divine 
favor,  I  must  submit  unto,  if  ever  I  came  to  be  a  partaker 
of  that  bread  which  nourishes  the  soul  unto  eternal  life. 
"  But  oh  !  the  weight  and  exercise  I  was  under  during 
this  time  of  refinement ;  the  days  and  nights  of  godly 
sorrow  and  penitential  mourning  I  underwent,  are  far 
beyond  my  ability  to  set  forth  in  words  ;  and  once  being 
alone  I  wejDt  exceedingly,  and  the  desire  of  my  soul  was, 
that  it  might  please  the  Almighty  to  show  me  His  ways, 
to  teach  me  His  paths  which  lead  to  peace,  and  give  me 
strength  to  walk  therein  according  to  His  word  ;  promis- 
ing that  I  would  endeavor  to  follow  in  the  way  which  was 
most  pleasing  to  Him,  for  that  was  what  my  panting  soul 
most  desired.  My  desires  were  not  for  great  things,  but 
Divine  favor ;  the  Lord  alone  was  become  the  centre  of  my 
happiness,  and  I  believe  I  should  have  died  at  that  time, 
had  He  not  been  pleased  in  a  wonderful  manner  to  mani- 
fest Himself  a  present  help  in  that  needful  time,  and  to  re- 
veal Himself  through  His  dear  Sou,  Christ  Jesus,  by  ad- 
ministering consolation  to  my  wounded  soul,  filling  my 
heart  with  heavenly  love,  so  that  my  cup  ran  over,  and 
I  was  made  to  cry  out.  Oh,  that  all  may  know  thee  and 
thy  goodness!  His  matchless,  loving  kindness  so  overcame 
me,  that  I  thought  I  could  have  gone  through  the  world 
to  proclaim  the  tender  dealings  of  a  merciful  God  to  my 
soul.  Here  I  again  renewed  my  covenant  with  God,  and 
promised  obedience  to  His  commands  ;  and  oh,  the  calm, 
the  peace,  comfort  and  satisfaction  wherewith  my  mind 
was  clothed,  like  a  child  enjoying  his  father's  favor,  and 
with  inexpressible  delight  beholding  the  smiles  of  his 
countenance.  I  was  afraid  to  do  or  say  anything  that 
might  offend  the  Lord,  lest  the  rod  might  be  laid  heavy 
on  me,  for  this  is  the  portion  of  disobedience.      In  that 


JANE    HOSKINS.  43 

time  1  became  a  Avouder  to  muuy,  but  was  treated  with 
great  tenderness  by  most  of  the  Friends  and  neighbors. 
I  had  laid  aside  all  superfluity  of  apparel,  for  which  I 
had  been  condemned ;  I  attended  meetings  diligently,  and 
walked  three  or  four  miles  to  them,  sometimes  alone  medi- 
tating upon  the  Lord,  and  thought  the  work  of  my  pre- 
sent and  future  happiness  was  now  completed  in  me,  that 
I  had  nothing  to  do  but  sit  contented  under  the  enjoyment 
of  Divine  favor,  rejoicing  that  I  had  left  all  and  followed 
Christ,  whom  I  loved  more  than  my  natural  life.  Thus  I 
concluded  in  my  own  mind,  not  knowing  as  yet  what  the 
Lord  was  preparing  me  for,  nor  that  there  was  a  further 
work  allotted  me,  which  I  was  a  stranger  to,  till  one  time 
being  in  a  meeting,  and  sitting  very  contented  under  my 
own  vine  and  fig  tree,  a  call  arose  in  my  mind,  '  I  have 
chosen  thee  a  vessel  from  thy  youth  to  serve  me,  and  to 
preach  the  gospel  of  salvation  to  many  people  ;  and  if 
thou  wilt  be  faithful,  I  will  be  with  thee  unto  the  end  of 
time,  and  make  thee  an  heir  of  my  kingdom.'  " 

Notwithstanding  she  had  thought  the  work  of  her  salva- 
tion "  completed,"  yet  when  it  Avas  required  of  her  to 
preach  the  word  given  her,  she  found  great  unwillingness 
to  submit  to  the  Divine  requisition  ;  and  many  months  of 
deep  suffering  were  ])assed  through,  ere  she  was  brought 
to  yield  up  her  own  will,  and  faithfully  to  bear  this  cross. 

During  the  subsequent  yeai-s  of  her  life,  she  met  with 
many  trials  and  exercises,  designed  to  promote  her  own 
growth  in  religious  experience,-and  to  prepare  her  for  the 
performance  of  those  services  to  which  she  was  called  by 
her  Divine  master.  But  through  all  she  was  enabled  to 
look  to  the  Lord  for  counsel  and  help ;  and  this  was  re- 
markably extended,  both  inwardly  and  outwardly.  The 
account  she  has  left  of  the  dealings  of  the  Almighty  with 
her,  is  very  lively  and  instructive.  In  the  course  of  her 
religious  labors,  she  twice  visited   the  churches  in  Great 


44  .  JOHN    BANKS. 

Britain,  aud  made  two  voyages  to  Barbadoes  ;  besides 
travelliog  extensively  on  this  continent.  She  concludes 
her  narrative  with  the  following  brief  review  : 

"  Upon  the  whole,  I  may  say  as  did  King  David,  '  Day 
unto  day  uttereth  speech,  and  night  unto  night  showeth 
knowledge  ;'  by  sore  afflictions  we  learn  experience,  and 
if  we  make  a  proj)er  use  thereof,  all  will  in  due  time  be 
sanctified  to  us,  so  that  we  shall  receive  the  word  oi'  in- 
struction with  joy." 


JOHN    BANKS. 


John  Banks  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends  in  the  north  of  England.  His  friends 
of  Pardshaw  Monthly  Meeting,  in  the  county  of  Cumber- 
land, have  left  on  record  a  testimony  to  his  worth,  in 
which  they  say  :  "  He  was  a  faithful  minister  of  the  ever- 
lasting gospel,  and  given  up  to  preach  it  freely,  aud  labor 
faithfully  in  the  work  thereof;  aud  went  through  great 
hardships,  and  travelled  much  both  by  sea  and  land,  in 
Ireland,  Scotland,  and  in  this  nation,  and  most  of  all  in 
this  county,  where  he  labored  night  and  day  for  the  gather- 
ing of  people  to  God,  and  for  the  settling  of  those  who 
were  gathered.  *  *  He  was  instrumental  to  gather  seve- 
ral meetings  in  this  county  ;  being  an  incessant  laborer 
in  the  Lord's  work,  both  in  body  and  mind.  *  *  It  was 
not  only  given  to  him  to  believe,  but  to  sufiTer  for  the  tes- 
timony of  God  ;  in  which  he  was  preserved  firm  and  true, 
to  the  stripping  oYhis  goods  by  the  Conventicle  Act,  public 
sale  being  made  of  what  he  had  ;  yet  the  Lord  bore  him 
up  over  all,  that  he  was  as  one  of  the  stakes  of  Zion,  that 
could  not  be  moved.  He  was  afterwards  in  prison  at 
Carlisle  for  his  testimony  ;  yet  retained  his  iutegrity  and 
stood  faithful." 


JOHN    r.ANK> 


45 


In  his  last  illuoss,  he  woukl  often  say,  tlmt  notwith- 
standing all  his  pain,  his  soul  did  praise  and  magnify  the 
Lord,  for  His  goodness  towards  him.  A  few  hours  before 
his  death,  he  remarked  how  well  it  was  to  have  nothing 
to  do  but  to  die.  At  another  time  he  said,  he  was  assured 
it  would  be  well  with  him,  and  that  he  should  end  in  the 
truth  as  he  began.  Some  friends  being  with  him  a  few 
days  before  his  death  he  said  to  them,  "  Although  I  am 
weak  in  bod}^,  and  do  not  know  whether  I  may  live  much 
longer  or  no,  I  am  however,  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in 
the  power  of  His  might,  and  have  nothing  to  do  but  to 
die ;  for  I  am  rich  in  faith  towards  God,  and  my  cup  is 
full  of  the  love  of  God.  Whether  I  live  or  die  it  will  be 
well  with  my  soul ;  for  blessed  be  the  Lord  ;  I  can  say 
with  the  wise  and  holy  apostle  Paul,  that  I  have  fought  a 
good  fight  and  kept  the  faith,  and  henceforth  there  is  laid 
up  for  me  a  crown  of  eternal  life." 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  John  Banks  wrote  a  Jour- 
nal, showing,  as  he  says,  "  the  manner  of  my  education 
and  convincement,  how  I  came  to  receive  the  knowledge 
of  God,  and  of  His  blessed  truth  ;  the  travail  of  my  soul 
under  judgment ;  how  I  came  through  the  same  to  obtain 
mercy  at  the  Loi'd's  hand  for  sin  and  transgression." 
From  this  valuable  record  of  Christian  experience,  the 
following  account  has  been  condensed  : 

"  When  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  lOtli  mo, 
1654,  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  reach  to  my  heart  and  con- 
science, by  His  pure,  living  Spirit,  in  the  blessed  appear- 
ance thereof  in  and  through  Jesus  Christ ;  whereby  I  re- 
ceived the  knowledge  of  God,  and  the  way  of  His  blessed 
truth,  by  myself  alone  in  the  field,  before  I  ever  heard  any 
one  called  a  Quaker  preach  ;  and  before  I  was  at  any 
of  their  meetings.  But  the  first  day  that  I  went  to  one, 
which  was  at  Pardshaw,  the  Lord's  power  so  seized  ujjon 
me  in  the  meeting,  that  I  was  made  to  cry  out  in  the 
5* 


46  .JOHN    BANKS. 

bitterness  of  my  soul,  in  a  true  sight  aiul  sense  of  my  sins, 
which  appeared  exceeding  sinful ;  and  the  same  day  as  I 
was  going  to  an  evening  meeting  of  God's  people,  scorn- 
fully called  Quakers,  by  the  way,  I  was  smitten  to  the 
ground  with  the  weight  of  God's  judgment  for  sin  and 
iniquity  which  tell  heavy  upon  me,  and  I  was  taken  up 
by  two  Friends.  Oh  !  the  gorily  sorrow  that  took  hold  of 
rae  that  night  in  the  meeting  ;  so  that  I  thought  in  myself 
every  one's  condition  was  better  than  mine.  A  Friend 
who  was  touched  with  a  sense  of  my  condition  and  greatly 
pitied  me,  was  made  willing  to  read  a  paper  in  the  meet- 
ing, which  was  so  suitable  to  my  condition,  that  it  helped 
me  a  little,  and  gave  some  ease  to  my  spirit.  I  was  now 
very  much  bowed  down  and  perplexed,  my  sins  being  set 
in  order  before  me  ;  and  the  time  I  had  spent  in  wild- 
ness  and  wantonness,  out  of  the  fear  of  t^od,  in  vanity, 
sport  and  pastime,  came  into  my  view  and  remembrance. 
The  book  of  my  conscience  was  o^Dcned,  for  I  was  by 
nature  wild  and  wanton  ;  and  though  there  were  good 
desires  stirring  in  me  many  times,  and  something  that 
judged  me  and  reproved  me,  and  often  strove  with  me 
to  restrain  me  from  evil,  yet  not  being  sensible  what  it 
was,  I  had  got  over  it. 

"  I  was  like  those  who  make  merry  over  the  witness  of 
God,  even  the  witness  and  testimony  of  His  Holy  Spirit, 
in  and  through  Jesus  Christ,  His  Son,  made  known  in  God's 
great  love  to  the  sons  and  daughters  of  men.  This  was ' 
that,  whereby  the  Lord  many  times  strove  with  me,  until 
at  last  he  prevailed  upon  me.  So  that  I  may  say,  as  a 
true  witness  for  God,  and  the  sufficiency  of  His  power  and 
quickening  Spirit,  I  did  not  only  come  to  be  convinced 
by  the  living  ajjpearance  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  of  the  vanity, 
sin,  and  wickedness  which  the  world  lies  in,  and  that  I 
was  partaker  thereof;  but  by  taking  heed  thereto,  through 
watchfulness  and  fear,  I  came  to  be  sensible  of  the  work 


JOHN   BANKS.  47 

thereof  in  my  heart,  iu  order  to  sabdue  and  bring  down 
the  wild  nature  in  me,  and  to  wash  and  cleanse  me  from 
sin  and  corruption,  that  I  might  be  changed  and  con- 
verted. But  before  I  came  to  witness  this  work  effected, 
oh,  the  days  and  nights  of  godly  sorrow  and  spiritual  pain 
I  travelled  through  for  some  years  !  *  "^  *  As  I  travelled 
under  the  ministration  of  condemnation  and  judgment  for 
sin  and  transgression,  great  was  the  warfare  I  had  with 
the  enemy  of  my  soul,  who,  through  his  subtlety,  sought 
to  betray  me  from  the  simplicity  of  the  Truth,  and  to  per- 
suade me  to  despair,  as  though  there  was  no  mercy  for 
me;  yet  iu  some  small  measure  I  knew  the  Lord  had 
showed  mercy  to  me,  which  He  mixed  with  judgment,  for 
ray  sins  past.  But  the  experience  I  had  gained  iu  the 
travail  of  my  soul,  and  the  faith  begotten  of  God  in  my 
heart,  strengthencKl  me  to  withstand  the  enemy  and  his 
subtle  reasonings. 

"  I  overcame  the  wicked  one,  through  a  diligent  wait- 
ing in  the  light,  and  keeping  close  to  the  power  of  God, 
waiting  upon  Him  iu  silence  among  His  people,  in  which 
exercise  my  soul  delighted. 

"  Oh,  the  comfort  and  Divine  consolation  we  were  made 
partakers  of  in  those  days ;  and  iu  the  inward  sense  and 
feeling  of  the  Lord's  power  and  presence  with  us,  we  en- 
joyed one  another,  and  were  near  and  dear  one  unto 
another.  But  it  was  through  various  trials  and  deep 
exercises,  with  fear  and  trembling,  that  thus  we  were 
made  partakers.  Blessed  and  happy  are  they  who  know 
what  the  truth  has  cost  them,  and  hold  it  in  righteous- 
ness. 

"Waiting  diligently  in  the  light,  and  keeping  close  to 
the  power  of  God  ;  which  is  therein  received,  I  came  to 
experience  the  work  thereof  in  my  heart,  in  order  to 
effect  my  freedom  from  bondage,  which  by  degrees  went 
on  and  [)rospered  in  me,  and  so  I   gained  ground  more 


48  JOHN    HANKS. 

and  more  against  the  eneni}'  of  my  sonl,  througli  faitli  in 
the  power  of  God  ;  without  which  no  victoxy  is  obtained. 

"  My  prosperity  in  the  truth  I  always  found  was  by 
being  faithful  to  the  Lord,  in  what  He  manifested,  though 
but  in  small  things  ;  unfaithfulness  in  which,  is  the  cause 
of  loss  and  hurt  to  many  in  their  growth  in  the  truth. 

"  After  I  had  passed  through  great  tribulation,  weep- 
ing and  mourning  in  woods  and  solitary  places  alone, 
where  I  often  desired  to  be,  I  came  to  more  settlement  in 
my  spirit,  and  peace  began  to  spring  in  my  soul  ;  where 
trouble  and  sorrow  had  been.  Then  at  times  I  would 
be  ready  to  think,  that  I  should  not  again  meet  with  such 
combats  and  besetments  by  the  enemy  of  my  soul,  as  I 
had  passed  through.  But  the  more  I  grew  in  experience 
of  the  dealings  of  the  Lord  with  me ;  so  much  the  more 
did  the  enemy  transform  himself,  and  as  he  could  not 
prevail  by  his  former  presentations,  so  in  his  subtlety  he 
would  invent  new  ones.  Thus  I  came  clearly  to  see  that 
it  was  not  safe  for  me  to  sit  down  satisfied  with  what  I 
had  passed  through,  or  the  victory  I  had  already  obtained  ; 
but  to  travel  on  in  faith  and  patience,  and  watch  dili- 
gently in  the  light  of  Jesus  Christ,  where  the  true  power 
is  still  received.  For  notwithstanding  the  many  deliver- 
ances, and  strength  and  victory  I  had  experienced,  the 
Lord,  according  to  the  greatness  of  His  wisdom,  was 
pleased  to  make  me  sensible  of  my  own  weakness,  and 
that  there  was  no  strength  to  stand,  no  place  of  safety  for 
me  to  abide  in,  but  in  His  power,  and  under  a  sense 
thereof,  I  was  humbled,  bowed  and  laid  low. 

"  Wherefore  I  took  up  a  godly  resolution  in  His  fear,  '  I 
will  rely  upon  the  sufficiency  of  thy  power,  O  Lord,  for- 
ever.' About  six  years  after  I  had  received  the  truth, 
through  great  exercise  and  godly  sorrow,  I  came  to  be 
settled  in  the  power  of  God,  and  made  weighty  in  my 
spirit  thereby  ;  and  had  some  openings  from  the  Spirit  of 


JOHN    BANKS.  49 

Truth,  iu  silent  waitiugs  upon  the  Lord ;  which  tended  to 
minister  comfort  and  satisfaction  to  my  soul,  in  a  renewed 
experience  of  the  dealings  of  the  Lord  with  me  ;  and  the 
Lord  opened  my  mouth  with  a  testimony  in  the  fresh  spring 
of  life,  that  I  was  to  give  forth  to  His  children  and  people." 

Having  been  himself  taught  in  the  school  of  Christ, 
John  Banks  w^as  prepared  to  point  out  to  others  the  way 
to  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and  to  speak  of  those  things 
which  his  own  hands  had  handled  of  the  word  of  life.  A 
few  extracts  from  his  writings,  will  show  the  clear  and 
practical,  yet  w'ise  and  spiritual,  character  of  his  advices 
to  those  who  were  seeking  deliverance  from  the  power  of 
sin. 

In  an  epistle  to  the  people  of  Carlisle,  he  says  :  "  This, 
the  Light  of  Christ,  the  Grace  of  God,  the  Spirit  of  Truth 
will  do  for  thee,  if  thou  lovest  it  and  believest  in  it:  when 
thou  art  tempted  to  sin,  power  from  God  will  be  given 
unto  thee  through  it,  which  thou  hast  not  of  thyself,  to 
overcome  the  wicked  one  in  his  temptations.  *  *  *  Thus 
power  is  given  over  the  temptation,  and  so  over  sin  ;  one 
temptation  and  sin  after  another  is  gradually  overcome ; 
for  as  many  as  believe  in  Him,  who  said,  '  I  am  the  light,' 
to  them  He  gives  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God.    *    * 

"  Is  not  He  at  the  door  of  your  hearts,  to  call  you  to 
repentance,  by  His  light,  grace  and  holy  Spirit?  And  if 
there  be  not  a  believing  in  Him  by  obeying  the  same, 
what  availeth  His  death  and  suffering  to  you,  and  the 
shedding  of  His  precious  blood  for  you,  if  sin  be  not  fin- 
ished Jiere,  and  transgression  put  to  an  end?  Eph.  v.  5, 
and  read  to  the  21st  verse.  No  unclean  thing  can  enter 
into  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of  God.     '''     *     * 

"  Was  not  sin  the  cause  wherefore  He  suffered :  and  if  the 
cause  through  faith  in  Him,  be  not  taken  away,  how  shall 
the  effect  ceas(;?  but  if  the  cause  through  faith  in  Him, 


50  JOHN    BANKS. 

be  takeu  away,  then  the  effect  ceasetli,  and  everlasting 
felicity,  world  without  end,  ensueth."     *     *  -  * 

In  an  epistle  on  the  blessed  effects  of  true  and  saving 
faith,  written  from  his  prison-house  in  Carlisle,  John 
Banks  thus  counsels  those  "  who  are  young  in  the  truth, 
and  whom  the  enemy  may  bear  hard  upon  by  tempta- 
tions ;" — "  Dear  Friend,  in  much  tenderness  ray  soul 
breathes  unto  the  Lord  for  thy  deliverance ;  and  in  order 
that  thou  mayst  be  delivered  from  that  which  so  ojDpresses 
thee  in  spirit,  or  stands  in  thy  way,  mark  well  what  I  say 
unto  thee.  Thou  wiliest  too  much,  and  through  thy  will- 
ing thou  wouldst  run  too  fast,  and  make  too  much  haste, 
striving  to  get  over  things,  which  is  the  great  cause  why 
thou  comest  short  of  obtaining  victory  through  faith." 
"Stand  still  and  patiently  wait  to  receive  the  power  which 
the  Lord  will  give  to  all  in  His  own  time,  not  in  theirs, 
who  patiently  wait  for  it ;  that  so  patience  in  thee  may 
have  its  perfect  work,  and  thou  mayst  have  the  victory 
given  to  thee  over  all  the  temptations  of  the  enemy, 
through  faith  in  the  power  of  God." 

This  advice  is  in  accordance  with  the  sense  that  many 
have  had  impressed  on  them,  of  the  necessity  of  patiently 
enduring  every  dispensation  of  the  Almighty,  until  its  full 
effect  was  received.  Where  a  hasty  and  impatient  dispo- 
sition is  indulged,  persons  are  very  liable  to  content  them- 
selves with  only  a  partial  experience  of  the  work  of  Grace  ; 
and  to  sit  down  short  of  the  true  rest.  That  valuable 
minister,  John  Griffith,  who  was  a  man  of  great  spiritual 
discernment,  thus  speaks  of  this  class  of  professors  in  his 
day : — "  Others  there  be,  who  imagine  conversion  is  effected 
in  an  instant ;  and  in  order  that  their  deception  may  be 
effectual,  the  false  prophet  causes  fire  to  come  down  as 
from  heaven  in  their  sight ;  he  that  is  prince  of  the  airy 
region,  raises  vehement  heats  and  agitations  upon  their 
passions.     This  they  call  the  workings  of  the  Spirit  upon 


JOHN    BANKS.  51 

them  for  their  conversion ;  imraediately  after  which  a  kind 
of  heaven  ia  formed,  wherein  they  take  their  rest  with  a 
seeming  security,  erroneously  supposing  their  calling  and 
election  are  made  sure,  and  that  they  can  never  fall  from 
saving  grace,  which  they  doubt  not  of  having  in  their 
possession.     Oh  I  how  dangerous  is  such  a  security." 

In  common  with  his  fellow-memliers  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  in  its  early  days,  John  Banks  was  a  full  believer 
in  the  outward  coming,  death  and  sufferings  of  Christ; 
and  in  the  benefit  resulting  therefrom  to  mankind.  A 
few  years  before  his  death,  he  wrote  "  A  true  testimony 
concerning  my  faith  in  Christ,"  from  which  the  following 
passages  are  taken. 

"I  believe  in  that  same  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Sou  of 
God,  for  remission  of  sins,  and  the  salvation  of  my  soul, 
who  was  conceived  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  born  of  the  virgin 
]\Iary,  made  a  good  confession  before  Pontius  Pilate,  and 
was  crucified  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem. 

"  I  also  believe  in  Him,  as  to  His  appearing  the  second 
time,  without  sin,  unto  salvation,  to  all  that  look  for  Him, 
by  His  living  and  eternal  spirit,  the  Spirit  of  trutli,  Avhich 
the  world  cannot  receive ;  as  when  He  prayed  unto  the 
Father,  that  He  would  send  the  Comforter,  that  leads 
into  all  truth,  all  that  l)elieve  in  Him  thereby. 

"  When  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  visit  me  witli  the  day- 
spring  of  His  love  from  on  high,  in  the  days  of  my  youth, 
by  this  Spirit  of  life  and  truth,  sin  and  Satan  were  mani- 
fested ;  and  if  at  any  time  I  was  prevailed  upon,  by  enter- 
ing into  any  of  his  temptations,  I  was  reproved  and  judged 
thereby.  But  when  faith  was  begotten  in  my  heart,  to 
believe  in  the  Spirit  of  truth  that  reproved  me,  I  received 
power  from  Him  in  whom  I  did  and  do  believe,  to  over- 
come one  sin  after  another,  in  order  to  a  perfect  freedom 
from  it,  which  must  be  in  this  life,  or  else  there  is  no  en- 
tering into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.     For  all  who  live  and 


52  WILTJAM    EDMUND30N. 

die  in  sin  fire  unclean,  and  therefore  cannot  enter  the  king- 
dom. 

"  This  is  the  blessed  eft'ect  of  the  faith  of  every  true  be- 
liever in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  as  to  His  birth,  suffering, 
resurrection,  ascension,  and  second  coming  without  sin, 
unto  salvation ;  in  whom  all  must  believe  for  life  and 
salvation  to  their  souls,  whoever  come  to  know  the  full 
assurance  thereof,  in  the  kingdom  of  happiness,  and  endless 
glory. 

"  Blessed,  praised  and  magnified  be  the  worthy  name 
of  the  Lord  our  God  forever,  who  hath  opened  our  under- 
standings by  His  jDower,  whereby  we  know  Him  in  whom 
we  do  believe  ;  which  is  not  to  believe  in  the  Light  within, 
distinct  from  Christ ; — or  as  if  people  could  believe  in  the 
Light  and  not  in  Christ.  But  we  believe  in  both  as  one ; 
knowing  and  being  clear  in  our  understanding,  that  no 
separation  can  be  made  between  Christ  and  the  Light 
that  comes  from  Him,  which  shines  in  the  hearts  of  all 
true  believers ;  and  shines  in  the  darkness  of  unbelievers, 
and  therefore  the  darkness  cannot  comprehend  it.  So  we 
as  truly  believe  in  that  same  Christ,  who  laid  down  His 
body  and  took  it  up  again,  as  in  His  Light  within  ;  and  we 
have  benefit  to  salvation,  by  the  one  as  well  as  the  other  ; 
and  of  both,  they  being  one ;  and  are  willing  to  lay  hold 
of  every  help  and  means,  God,  in  and  through  Jesus 
Christ,  has  ordained  for  our  salvation." 


WILLIAM    EDMUNDSON. 

William  Edmundson  was  the  most  prominent  among 
the  early  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends  in  Ireland, 
whither  he  removed  from  England  whilst  yet  a  young 
man.     He  travelled  much  in  the  work  of  the  ministry, 


WILLIAM    EDMUXDSON.  o3 

uot  only  in  his  adopted  couutry,  but  iu  other  parts  of 
Great  Britain,  aud  ou  the  continent  of  North  America ; 
and  was  instrumental  in  awakening  many  to  an  earnest 
concern  for  their  souls'  salvation.  He  was  of  great  ser- 
vice in  promoting  the  introduction  and  settlement  of  meet- 
ings for  discipline  in  the  Society  to  which  he  belonged, 
aud  labored  fervently  that  its  members  might  be  preserved 
in  that  simple  and  pure  conduct  aud  manner  of  living, 
and  that  liveliness  of  spirit,  which  were  consistent  with 
the  principles  they  professed.  Being  a  man  of  undaunted 
courage,  and  much  force  of  character,  his  labors  with 
those  in  authority  for  the  good  of  his  fellow-members 
Avheu  suffering  from  religious  persecution,  were  often 
blessed  aud  crowded  with  success.  During  the  civil  war 
attending  the  expulsion  of  James  the  Second  from  the 
throne  of  Great  Britain,  his  dwelling  was  burnt,  his  goods 
plundered,  and  his  life  in  imminent  danger  from  the  vio- 
lence of  blood-thirsty  men,  by  whom  he  was  grossly  abused. 
Through  all  the  vicissitudes  that  attended  his  career,  he 
preserved  his  Christian  character  unblemished.  In  his 
journal  he  says  : — 

"  I  was  born  at  Littlc-Musgrove,  iu  Westmoreland,  in 
the  year  1627.  "■'  *  *  After  sometime  I  was  bound 
apprentice  in  York  to  the  ti'adeof  a  carpeuter  and  joiner, 
where  I  lived  some  years.  In  this  time,  the  Lord  began 
to  work  in  the  hearts  of  many  people  in  that  city,  so  that 
there  were  great  openings  in  the  things  of  God,  both  in 
preachers  and  hearers.  Then  the  Lord  began  to  visit  me 
with  His  judgments,  and  to  set  my  sins  before  me :  many 
times  I  was  under  great  exercises  concerning  my  salva- 
tion, and  also  about  election  and  reprobation.  So  many 
things  wrought  mightily  in  ray  mind  about  religion,  that 
I  was  often  brought  very  low  iu  my  spirit,  and  at  public 
worsliip  in  tlie  steeple-house  at  times,  tlie  Lord's  judg- 
ments would  seizi'  ii|)uii    iiic   licavilv.     <  )ih'  time   in  (he 


54  wiIjLiam  edmundhon. 

public  worship,  the  haud  of  the  Lord  was  so  upon  me, 
that  I  shed  abundance  of  tears  in  weeping  and  bewailing 
my  wretclied  state  ;  and  the  priest  and  congregation  took 
notice  of  me,  but  none  directed  me  aright  to  the  Physician 
who  could  heal  my  wounded  spirit. 

"  About  this  time  I  went  into  the  Parliament's  army, 
and  there  continued  part  of  the  war  between  the  king  and 
parliament ;  and  when  that  was  over  I  went  into  Scotland 
under  Oliver  Cromwell  in  the  year  1650.  The  Loi'd 
began  afresh  with  me,  and  many  times  His  heavy  judg- 
ments would  seize  upon  me,  and  bring  me  low  in  a  con- 
sideration of  the  life  I  lived  in,  and  w-hat  the  end  would 
be ;  and  sometimes  his  mercies  Avould  S2)riug  in  my  heart 
to  my  great  refreshment,  and  cause  tears  of  joy  and  glad- 
ness. But  I  knew  not  the  secret  hand  that  was  dealing 
with  me,  neither  met  I  with  any  who  informed  me,  although 
in  the  army  we  had  many  high  professors  of  religion. 
Sometimes  when  I  had  been  on  service  most  of  the  day, 
and  was  lying  down  in  my  tent  at  night,  then  would  arise 
in  my  mind  the  imminent  dangers  I  had  jDassed  that  day, 
and  the  narrow  escapes  my  life  had,  and  what  would  have 
become  of  my  soul,  if  I  had  fallen  while  in  uncertainty  of 
my  future  happiness  ;  with  resolutions  to  turn  to  the  Lord 
by  repentance  and  amendment  of  life ;  l)ut  when  action 
presented,  which  I  was  active  in  at  that  time,  I  got  over 
it  again  in  my  vanity. 

"  In  the  year  1651,  the  Scotch  army  marched  for  Eng- 
land;  we  followed  and  engaged  them  at  Worcester,  and 
overthrew  their  army.  After  the  fight  I  was  troubled  in 
mind  for  my  vanity,  for  the  Lord  preserved  my  life  still  ; 
but  I  fled  from  judgment,  and  made  merry  over  God's 
witness  in  my  conscience,  which  testified  against  me.  *  * 

"  One  market-day  at  Chesterfield,  I  was  in  a  tavern  with 
others  of  my  companions,  and  two  women  of  the  people 
called  Quakers,  spoke  of  the  things  of  God  to  the  people 


WMI.LIAM    EDMINUSON,  Hi) 

in  the  market.  I  did  not  hear  of  them  until  tlu-y  were 
gone,  but  the  priest  of  the  town,  and  several  with  him, 
abused  them.  When  they  had  done  they  came  to  the 
tavern,  into  the  room  where  I  and  my  companions  were, 
it  being  a  large  dining-room,  where  the  priest  boasted  of 
what  he  had  done  to  the  two  women,  thinking  we  wonld 
praise  him,  but  I  loved  to  hear  of  the  women,  and  hated 
his  behavior  towards  them. 

"A  young  man,  a  merchant,  then  present,  who  fre- 
quented my  company  and  would  often  speak  of  the  peo- 
ple called  Quakers,  and  say  their  principles  were  the 
truth,  hearing  the  priest  boast  of  his  abusive  behavior  to 
the  said  two  women,  answered  and  said,  It  was  a  poor 
victory  he  had  gotten  over  two  poor  women  ;  at  which  the 
priest  was  very  angry  and  began  to  storm.  My  spirit 
rose  against  him  ;  I  started  up  from  my  seat,  and  asked 
the  priest  and  them  with  him,  if  they  came  to  quarrel  ? 
saying,  if  they  did,  they  should  have  enough.  The  priest 
answered.  No,  not  with  you,  sir.  I  bid  them  leave  the 
room,  which  they  presently  did ;  but  these  things  came 
close  to  me,  and  the  more  I  heard  of  this  people  the  better 
I  loved  them,  and  earnest  desires  sprung  afresh  in  my 
heart,  that  the  Lord  would  show  me  the  way  of  truth." 

About  this  time  William  Edmundsou  left  the  army, 
married,  and  having  bought  a  quantity  of  merchant  goods, 
settled  in  Ireland.  He  says :  "  My  inclinations  were  after 
religion,  and  my  conscience  began  to  be  awakened  by  the 
Lord's  judgments  mixed  with  mercy,  which  preserved 
me. 

"'  I  soon  sold  the  goods  I  brought  ovei',  and  forthwith 
went  for  England  to  ])uy  more  ;  and  coming  into  the  north 
of  England  among  my  relations,  at  the  time  George  Fox 
and  James  Naylor  were  in  that  country,  James  Naylor 
having  a  meeting  about  three  miles  from  where  I  was,  1 
wcTit  to  it  witli   iiiv  clilcst  brother  Tlioinas,  and  iuiotlicr 


5b  WILTJAM    EDMUNDSON. 

kiusman,  haviug  an  earnest  desire  to  converse  with  some 
of  that  people,  retaining  a  love  for,  and  believing  well  of 
them  from  the  first  hearing  the  report  of  them  ;  and  I  was 
glad  of  this  opportunity.  We  were  all  three  convinced  of 
the  Lord's  blessed  truth ;  for  God's  witness  in  our  hearts 
answered  to  the  truth  of  what  was  spoken,  and  the  Lord's 
former  dealings  with  me  came  fresh  into  my  remembrance. 
Then  I  knew  it  was  the  Lord's  hand  that  had  been  striv- 
ing with  me  for  a  long  time.     This  was  in  the  year  1653. 

"  Then  my  understanding  began  to  be  opened,  and  many 
scriptures  were  brought  to  my  remembrance,  which  I  had 
often  read,  yet  understood  not ;  but  now  being  turned  to 
a  measure  of  the  Lord's  Spirit  manifested  in  my  heart, 
which  had  often  reproved  me  for  evil  in  my  ignorance,  I 
knew  it  was  the  truth  which  led  into  all  truth,  agreeably 
to  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  law  and  prophets,  Christ 
and  His  apostles,  and  I  thought  all  that  heard  it  de- 
clared must  own  it,  it  was  so  plain  to  me.  A  few  days 
after  I  was  thus  far  convinced  of  the  blessed  truth,  the 
Lord's  power  seized  upon  me  through  His  Spirit,  whereby 
I  was  brought  under  great  exercises  of  mind  ;  yea,  all  my 
parts  came  under  this  exercise,  for  the  Lord's  hand  was 
mighty  upon  me,  in  judgments  mixed  with  mercies ;  so 
that  my  former  ways  were  hedged  up.  But  I  loved  the 
Lord's  judgments,  for  I  knew  I  had  sinned  against  Him, 
and  must  be  purged  through  judgment.  And  though 
under  this  exercise  of  conscience  towards  God,  yet  I  did 
my  business  in  England,  and  shipped  my  goods  to  be 
landed  at  Carrickfergus  or  Belfast. 

"  Whilst  I  was  at  sea,  self  reasoned  strongly  to  save 
the  duty  on  my  goods,  for  I  had  an  opportunity  to  do  it> 
the  troop  my  brother  belonged  to  quartering  at  Carrick- 
fergus and  Belfast,  who  would  have  helped  me  night  or 
day.  But  I  durst  not  do  it,  my  conscience  being  awak- 
ened to  plead  for  truth, justice  and  equity;  yet  there  was 


WILLIAM    EDMUNDSOX.  57 

a  great  contest  between  conscience  and  self,  and  in  this 
conflict  niauy  scriptures  were  opened  to  my  understand- 
ing, that  duties  and  customs  ought  to  be  paid ;  and  though 
self  struggled  hard  for  mastery,  yet  at  last  was  overthrown, 
and  the  judgment  of  truth  prevailed. 

"  I  landed  at  Carrickfergus  where  a  trooper  readily 
lent  me  his  horse,  and  I  rode  that  evening  home  to  An- 
trim, where  my  wife  lived.  When  I  came  to  the  door, 
my  brother  came  forth  to  salute  me  with  his  usual  com- 
2:)liments;  but  the  Lord's  power  seized  upon  me  at  that 
instant,  he  was  struck  amazed,  went  in,  and  sat  down  silent. 
I  was  much  broken  in  the  power  of  the  Lord  before  them, 
and  my  brother  made  no  opposition,  but  received  the 
truth  and  joined  with  it. 

"  I  returned  to  Carrickfergus  to  bring  my  goods  ashore, 
but  the  officers  required  an  oath  to  the  truth  of  my  bills 
of  parcels,  and  not  suffering  them  to  comecashore  without 
it,  would  have  seized  ujwu  my  goods.  I  told  them,  I 
could  not  swear,  for  it  was  contrary  to  Christ's  command, 
which  seemed  a  strange  thing  to  them,  not  having  met 
with  the  like  befoi-e  ;  but  the  Lord's  truth  and  testimony 
was  precious  to  me,  and  after  some  time,  with  nmch  diffi- 
culty, I  got  an  order  to  bring  my  goods  to  the  custom 
house.  My  deportment  to  the  officers  and  others  herein 
was  a  wonder  to  them,  and  caused  much  discourse  and 
various  rumors  to  be  spread  of  the  Quakers,  and  of  me 
in  particular. 

"  After  I  came  home  with  my  goods,  the  Lord's  hand 
was  heavy  upon  me  day  and  night,  so  that  I  travailed 
under  a  great  conflict  between  flesh  and  spirit,  and  was 
much  cast  down  with  sorrow  and  trouble  of  mind  ;  but 
none  there  undei-stood  the  cause  of  my  sorrow  and  trou- 
ble, or  gave  a  word  of  comfort  to  ease  me.  I  would 
have  gone  far  for  the  company  of  an  experienced  Friend. 
My  sleep  departed  fi(»in  me,  am!  many  limes  in  the  nigiit 


58  WILLIAM    EDMUNDSON. 

in  great  trouble  of  mind,  crying  and  weeping,  I  wished 
for  day,  and  when  day  came,  my  sorrows  remaining,  I 
wished  again  for  night.  In  this  restless  state,  I  had  none 
who  had  trod  this  path  to  converse  with  ;  so  that  the 
rumor  of  my  condition  spread  abroad  among  the  pro- 
fessors ;  many  would  come  to  gaze  on  me,  jangle  aud  con- 
tend against  truth,  and  some  would  say  I  was  bewitched ; 
others,  I  was  going  mad.  So  talk  and  rumor  concerning 
me  spread  a  great  way  among  people. 

"  About  this  time  one  Miles  Bousfield  came  from  Eng- 
land to  Ireland,  at  whose  house  George  Fox  had  been. 
He  had  been  in  some  degree  convinced  of  the  truth,  and 
came  away  upon  it ;  he  was  a  great  talker  of  religion,  but 
an  enemy  and  a  stranger  to  the  cross  of  Christ.  Hearing 
of  me,  and  of  the  exercise  I  was  in,  he  came  to  see  nie. 
I  was  not  at  home  when  he  came,  but  he  talked  to  my 
wife,  and  spoke  well  of  the  Quakers  and  their  principles, 
seeming  to  l)e  glad  that  he  had  found  such  a  companion 
in  this  nation  as  I  was,  and  the  comfort  we  should  have 
of  one  another. 

"  When  I  came  home,  my  wife  told  me  of  his  having 
been  there,  and  the  discourse  he  had  with  her,  of  which 
I  was  glad  to  hear,  and  soon  took  my  horse  and  rode 
twelve  miles  to  see  him,  and  staid  with  him  all  night.  He 
talked  abundance  of  religion,  and  of  the  inward  work  of 
God  in  man  by  His  spirit,  and  spoke  well  of  George  Fox 
and  James  Naylor,  and  of  their  doctrine,  which  I  liked 
well ;  but  said,  he  knew  those  things  before  he  saw  or 
heard  them  ;  and  spoke  much  of  his  knowledge  of  God 
and  Christ.  I  sat  in  silence  with  attention  to  hear  him  ; 
for  I  was  cast  down,  poor  and  low  in  my  spirit,  yet  glad 
that  I  had  met  with  such  a  knowing  man  in  the  things  of 
God,  aud  His  work  in  man  by  His  spirit,  to  advise  me  in 
my  great  troubles  of  a  wounded  spirit.  He  advised  me 
to  be  cheerful  and  merrv,  and  not  to  look  at  those  inward 


AVILLIAM    EUMUJSIUSON.  .'j[) 

troubles,  that  bowed  me  down  ;  which  was  the  enemy's 
work  to  lead  me  into  despair,  and  destroy  me,  by  swallow- 
ing me  up  in  much  trouble ;  and  as  it  was  plainly  mani- 
fest, that  God  had  a  love  for  me,  to  make  me  a  chosen 
vessel  of  mercy,  He  would  love  me  to  the  end  ;  and  no- 
thing in  me  could  hinder  His  love,  or  frustrate  His  will. 

"  This  doctrine  healed  me  without  the  cross  of  Christ 
or  self-denial ;  which  answered  my  will  and  carnal  de- 
sires ;  for  I  loved  the  truth  which  I  'was  convinced  of, 
and  would  have  had  it,  together  with  my  carnalities 
ileshly  liberties,  worldly  pleasures  and  profits  ;  so  when 
the  Lord's  power  would  rise  to  bow  me  down  under  His 
cross,  I  would  reason  against  it  with  those  arguments 
afore-mentioned,  and  thereby  would  get  from  under  judg- 
ment. But  this  ease  and  slight  healing  lasted  only  about 
a  week  ;  for  the  Lord  would  not  leave  me  so,  praised  l)e 
His  name  forever,  whose  merciful  hand  preserved  me, 
and  His  power  took  fresh  hold  of  my  heart  and  iiiw:ird 
parts,  which  boAved  me  under  His  judgments,  and  opened 
the  eye  of  my  understanding,  plainly  showing  me  there 
was  that  alive  in  me  that  must  be  crucified,  which  opposed 
the  will  of  God. 

"Then  I  saw  where  Bousfield  was,  and  all  of  his  spirit, 
and  the  wounds  of  my  restless  spirit  were  opened  wider  than 
before,  and  Major  Bousfield's  slight  cure  was  all  marred, 
and  the  false  rest  he  set  me  in  taken  away.  I  had  none 
now  to  trust  to  but  the  Lord,  for  counsel  and  information, 
whose  care  was  greatly  manifested  for  my  preservation, 
redemption  and  information,  through  many  temptations 
and  deep  aftiictions  that  did  attend  me  many  ways,  with 
many  opposers  and  contenders.  I  was  weak,  but  the 
Lord's  strength  was  perfect  in  weakness,  and  His  spirit 
and  power  increased  in  me  through  obedience  to  the  cross 
of  Christ,  wherein  I  was  daily  exercised,  and  thereby  gnnv 


60  WILLIAM    EDMUNDSON. 

into  acquaintance  with  the  Lord's  work,  to  make  me  a 
vessel  for  His  purpose. 

"  In  the  spring  following,  I  removed  with  my  family 
from  Antrim,  to  live  in  the  county  of  Armagh  ;  took  a 
house  and  grazing  for  my  cattle,  and  kept  a  shop  of  some 
merchant  goods,  where  I  became  the  talk  and  gazing  stock 
of  the  people.  Professors  watched  me  narrowly  to  get 
occasion  against  me  and  the  j)rinciples  of  truth  I  pro- 
fessed, but  the  Lord  strengthened  me  in  my  watch  over 
my  words  and  deeds,  and  so  cut  off  occasion  from  them 
that  sought  occasion  against  the  truth  and  me.   . 

"  In  those  days,  to  use  the  plain  and  proper  speech,  as 
thee  and  thou  to  a  single  person,  and  keeping  on  tlie  hat, 
were  strange  things  to  people,  and  few  could  suffer  them 
to  be  used  ;  but  would  reflect  in  abusive  words,  and  some- 
times use  blows,  oj'  throw  stones.  Keeping  to  one  price 
in  selling  goods,  and  to  the  first  asking  without  abate- 
ment, was  a  great  stumbling  block  to  most  sorts  of  people, 
and  made  them  stand  at  a  distance  from  buying  for  some 
time,  until  they  saw  further  into  the  justice  thereof.  All 
things  were  rough  and  rugged  in  the  world,  and  tlie  cross 
of  Christ  was  foolishness  and  a  stumbling  block  to  them. 

"  My  exercises  and  trials  both  within  and  without  were 
many,  and  of  divers  sorts,  beyond  what  I  can  express. 
The  Lord's  judgments  clave  close  to  me  ;  I  was  made  to 
love  them,  and  willing  to  wait  upon  the  Lord  in  the  ways 
thereof.  Sometimes  when  the  Lord's  hand  would  be  easy 
with  me,  I  would  be  afraid  lest  He  should  withdraw  His 
hand  ;  then  my  desires  were  to  the  Lord  not  to  slacken 
His  hand,  but  to  search  me  thoroughly  ;  for  His  judg- 
ments were  become  sweet  to  my  taste,  which  He  many 
times  mixed  with  springs  of  mercy,  to  my  joy  and  com- 
fort. Business  in  the  affairs  of  the  world  became  a  trou- 
ble to  me,  though  there  were  presentations  and  opi)or- 
tunities  to  a-et  riches.     *     *     * 


WILLIAM    EDMUNDSON.  ^1 

"My  brother  being  convinced  of  the  truth,  my  wil'o,  he 
and  I,  met  together  twice  a  Aveek  at  my  house  ;  in  a  while 
after  four  more  were  convinced,  and  then  we  seven  met 
together  to  wait  upon  God,  and  to  worship  Him  in  spirit 
and  truth.  The  Lord's  mercy  and  goodness  were  often 
extended  to  us  to  our  comfort  and  confirmation,  in  the  ap- 
pearance of  His  blessed  truth  received  in  our  hearts." 

An  incident  recorded  in  William  Edmundson's  Jour- 
nal, is  here  introduced,  to  illustrate  the  manner  in  which 
the  Lord  is  pleased  at  times  to  operate  on  the  hearts  of 
His  servants  for  the  accomplishment  of  His  designs  ;  and 
also  to  show  the  strength  of  that  faith,  which  led  this 
Friend  to  turn  his  back  on  his  home,  though  he  believed 
his  property  was  in  danger.     He  says  : 

"  About  this  time  there  were  two  women  Friends  from 
London,  Anne  Gould  and  Julian  Wastwood,  who  came  to 
Dublin  and  travelled  to  Londonderry,  having  some  draw- 
ings to  that  place.  After  some  service  for  the  Lord  there, 
they  travelled  to  Colerain,  so  through  the  Scotch  country 
to  a  place  called  Clough,  all  on  foot  in  winter  time,  wad- 
ing rivers  and  dirty,  miry  ways.  Anne  Gould  being  a 
tender  woman,  was  much  spent  and  staid  at  Clough  ;  the 
enemy  persuading  her  that  God  had  forsaken  her,  and 
that  she  was  there  tc)  be  destroyed,  so  that  she  fell  into 
despair;  but  I  knew  nothing  of  them. 

"  At  this  time  my  brother  and  I  were  at  a  fair  in  An- 
trim ;  being  late  there,  we  proposed  to  lodge  that  night 
at  Glenavy,  six  miles  on  our  way  homeward.  Belbre  wc 
got  to  Glenavy,  I  was  under  a  great  exercise  of  spirit,  and 
the  word  of  the  liord  (-ame  unto  me,  that  my  shop  was  in 
danger  to  l)e  robbed  that  night.  I  told  my  brother  of  it; 
so  we  concluded  to  travel  home,  and  went  about  a  mile 
beyond  Glenavy  ;  but  my  spirit  was  still  under  a  great 
exercise,  the  word  of  the  Lord  moving  me  to  turn  back 
towards  Clough.     I  was  brought  under  a  great  cxenMse 


02  WILLIAM    LDMUNDSON. 

between  these  two  motious,  to  travel  back  and  my  service 
unknown ;  and  my  shop  on  the  other  hand  in  danger  to 
be  robbed,  which  brought  me  into  a  great  strait,  for  fear 
of  a  wrong  spirit.  I  cried  to  the  Lord  in  much  tender- 
ness of  spirit,  and  His  word  answered  me,  That  which  drew 
me  back  should  preserve  my  shop  ;  so  we  went  back  to 
Glenavy,  and  lodged  there.  That  night  I  slept  little,  be- 
cause of  many  doubts  about  the  concern  :  on  the  other 
hand  I  durst  not  disobey,  for  I  knew  the  terrors  of  God 
for  disobedience. 

"  The  next  morning,  my  brother  went  home,  but  I  rode 
back  to  Antrim.  Towards  evening  I  came  to  Clough, 
and  took  up  ray  lodging  at  an  inn,  the  country  being  gen- 
erally inhabited  by  Scotch  people  and  Presbyterians. 
When  I  came  into  the  house,  I  found  Anne  Gould  in 
despair,  and  Julian  Wastwood  wdth  her,  but  when  they 
knew  who  I  was  and  heard  my  name,  for  they  had  heard 
of  me  before,  the  poor  disconsolate  woman  revived  for  joy 
and  gladness,  and  got  up,  for  she  was  in  bed  overwhelmed 
under  trouble  of  mind.  I  saw  then  that  my  service  of 
coming  there  was  for  her  sake.  When  we  came  to  dis- 
course of  matters,  I  told  them  how  I  was  brought  there 
by  the  good  hand  of  God,  led  as  an  horse  by  the  bridle, 
to  the  place  where  they  were.  They  therefore  greatly 
rejoiced  and  praised  God  ;  the  tender  woman  was  helped 
over  her  trouble ;  and  she  saw  it  was  a  trial  of  great 
temptations  she  had  lain  under.  They  had  a  mind  to  go 
to  Carrickfergus,  to  my  house,  and  to  Dublin  to  take 
shipping  for  England;  but  neither  of  them  would  under- 
take to  ride  single,  therefore  I  was  forced  the  next  day 
to  carry  them  behind  me,  first  one  and  then  the  other. 
When  we  came  in  very  foul  way,  I  set  them  both  on 
horseback,  and  waded  myself  through  dirt  and  mire  in 
my  boots,  holding  them  both  on  horseback  with  my  hands. 
We  came  to  Conyers  that  night,  and  lodged  there  ;  the 


WILLIAM    ED.MUM)H(^^.  Oo 

uext  day  I  got  them  to  Carrickf'ergu.s ;  aud  there  leaving 
them,  rode  home  aud  sent  my  brother  and  two  horses,  to 
bring  them  to  my  house. 

"When  I  came  home,  I  iyquired  about  my  shop, 
whether  it  had  been  in  danger  of  robbing?  They  told 
me,  the  night  I  was  under  that  exercise  about  it,  the  shop 
window  was  broken  down  and  fell  with  such  violence  on 
the  counter,  that  it  awakened  our  people,  and  the  thieves 
w  ere  affrighted  and  ran  away.  So  I  was  confirmed  it  was 
the  word  of  the  Lord  that  said,  that  w'hich  drew  me  back 
should  preserve  my  shop,  and  I  was  greatly  strengthened 
in  the  word  of  life,  to  obey  the  Lord  in  what  He  required 
of  me ;  for  I  w'as  much  afraid  lest  at  anytime  my  under- 
standing should  be  betrayed  by  a  wrong  spirit,  not  fear- 
ing the  loss  of  goods  nor  sufierings  for  Truth,  its  testimony 
being  more  to  me  than  all  other  things." 

In  another  part  of  his  Journal,  he  bears  this  testimony 
to  the  feelings  that  actuated  the  membei'S  of  the  Society 
of  Friends  in  that  time,  when  the  dew  of  its  youth  rested 
u2:)on  it : 

"  In  those  days  the  world  and  the  things  of  it  were  not 
near  our  hearts,  but  the  love  of  God,  His  truth  and  testi- 
mony lived  in  our  hearts ;  we  were  glad  of  one  another's 
company,  though  sometimes  our  outward  fare  was  very 
mean,  and  our  lodging  on  straw ;  we  did  not  mind  high 
things,  l)ut  were  glad  one  of  another's  welfare  in  the  Lord, 
and  His  love  dwelt  in  us." 

As  William  Ednmndson  in  his  youthful  days  was  con- 
cerned to  dig  deep  and  lay  the  foundation  of  his  spiritual 
building  on  the  Rock,  he  found  it  able  to  endure  all  the 
storms  that  assailed  it  through  a  life  prolonged  to  nearly 
eighty-five  years — a  life  marked  with  abundant  labors  for 
the  spiritual  and  temporal  welfare  of  his  fellow-men,  aud 
accompanied  with  trials  of  no  ordinary  nature.     The  fol- 


64  WILLIAM    EDMUNDSON. 

lowing  nienioranduni,  peuued  iu  his  old  age,  gives  a  brief 
review  of  his  course. 

"  In  the  Eighth  mouth,  1704,  in  the  seveuty-seveutli 
year  of  ray  age,  beiug  uuder  much  afflictiou  and  weakness 
of  body,  I  was  resigned  unto  the  blessed  will  of  the  Lord, 
and  were  it  His  time,  would  gladly  have  been  dissolved 
and  at  ease,  '  where  the  weary  are  at  rest,  and  the  wicked 
cease  from  troubling.'  For  I  was  uot  afraid  of  death  or 
the  grave,  but  could  say,  through  the  tender  mercy  of 
God,  'Death,  where  is  thy  sting?  Grave,  where  is  thy 
victory?'  through  steadfast  faith  and  hope  in  my  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  who  suffered  for  me,  and  whom 
death  or  the  grave  could  uot  hold ;  but  who  rose  again, 
and  appears  before  the  Father  for  me,  as  advocate,  medi- 
ator and  interceder.  In  my  youthful  days  He  was  pleased 
to  visit  me  with  the  appearance  of  His  Holy  Spirit,  to  turn 
me  from  the  evil  of  my  ways,  making  me  sensible  of  His 
judgments  and  mercies,  calling  me  by  His  grace  to  a  refor- 
mation ;  and  also  put  me  into  His  service  in  the  ministra- 
tion of  the  Word  of  Life,  and  doctrine  of  His  kingdom,  en- 
dowing me  with  a  talent  of  His  Holy  Spirit  of  understand- 
ing in  doctrine  and  discipline,  for  the  benefit  of  His  church. 
In  Avhich  I  have  labored  for  the  space  of  above  fifty  years, 
according  to  my  strength  and  ability,  through  many  trou- 
bles, deep  exercises  and  perils  of  divers  kind,  by  sea  and 
land,  which  fell  to  my  lot  in  the  Lord's  service,  both  in  the 
wilderness  by  robbers  and  blood-thirsty  murderers,  by 
open  opposers  and  enemies  to  truth,  and  worst  of  all, 
by  false  brethren  under  the  same  profession.  These 
things,  and  many  other  great  exercises  and  straits,  the 
Lord's  arm  and  gracious  providence  have  still  preserved 
me  through,  and  supported  me  over  in  the  faith  that  gives 
the  victory,  having  blessed  His  work,  and  given  the  tes- 
timony of  His  truth  dominion  to  this  present  time." 

His  friends  testify,  that,  "Having  run  the  race  with 


JOSEni    PIKE.  'io 

]tutieiice,  and  kept  the  faith,  hv  departed  lliis  lil'c  in  sweet 
peace  witli  the  Lord,  in  unity  with  his  brethren,  and  good- 
will to  all  men." 


JOSEPH    PIKE. 


Joseph  Pike  was  a  valuable  elder  iu  the  Society  of 
Friends,  and  was  born  iu  the  year  1057,  near  Cork,  in 
Ireland.  Iu  his  old  age,  he  wrote  an  accouut  of  his 
Christian  experience,  chiefly  for  the  use  of  his  own  chil- 
dren, in  which  he  thus  narrates  the  dealings  of  the  Al- 
mighty with  him. 

"  Before  I  was  seven  years  of  age,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
began  to  work  in  my  mind,  aud  strove  w4th  me,  to  bring 
me  ofl"  from  childish  playfulness  and  vanities.  His  holy 
light  in  ray  soul,  as  I  soon  after  found  it  to  be,  convinced 
me  that  I  ought  not  to  give  way  to,  nor  do,  this  or  the 
other  thing  which  presented  ;  and  when  at  anytime,  I  did 
what  I  should  not  have  done,  it  brought  upon  me  trouble 
aud  condemnation,  even  in  those  early  days,  as  it  hath 
always  since,  wlien  I  did  auythiug  that  ofteuded  the  Lord." 

"  Though  I  did  not  presently  know  that  it  was  the  Lord's 
Spirit  which  I  felt  working  in  me,  as  Samuel  knew  not 
the  Lord's  voice  when  a  child,  yet  being  convinced  in  my- 
self by  its  holy  convictions,  that  I  ought  not  to  do  those 
things  which  brought  trouble  upon  me,  and  also,  that  when 
at  anytime  I  refrained  from  doing  what  caused  this  trou- 
ble, I  had  sweet  peace  and  satisfaction  of  mind,  it  made 
nu!  the  more  to  attend  to  its  dictates,  and  diew  me  off 
lioiii  many  childish  actions,  which  youtli  are  prone  to; 
whereby,  I  grew  into  sol)riety  beyond  many  of  my  age, 
until  I  came  to  be  about  nine  years  old. 
7 


66  .lOHP^PJI    I'IKE. 

"  But  in  ii  little  time  after,  I  began  by  degrees  to  lose 
tills  condition ;  and  I  well  remember  how  the  enemy  of 
my  soul  worked  iu  a  mystery,  insinuating  into  my  mind, 
'  What  harm  or  evil  is  there  in  things  that  are  accounted 
innocent  diversions  ?'  And  being  of  a  lively,  active  tem- 
per this  bait  took  with  me ;  so  that  my  mind  was  drawn 
off  from  attending  to  the  convictions  of  the  Lord's  Holy 
Spirit  in  my  heart,  which  did  often  bring  trouble  and 
condemnation  upon  me.  Beginning  to  love  playful  pas- 
times, I  lost  that  inward  sweetness  and  peace  which  I  had 
before  enjoyed  ;  and  by  endeavoring  to  stifle  these  secret 
reproofs,  I  grew  harder,  until,  from  a  desire  to  keep  com- 
pany with  other  wild  boys,  I  took  delight  in  getting  out 
into  the  streets  to  play  with  them,  so  that  I  grew  very 
wanton,  although  my  dear  parents  endeavored  to  restrain 
me.  After  I  had  been  associating  with  such  companions, 
when  I  came  to  be  a  little  still,  the  Lord's  judgments 
would  seize  me  and  bring  me  under  great  trouble  of  soul ; 
then  I  would  resolve  to  refrain  and  do  so  no  more.  Yet 
j)erhaps  the  next  temptation  that  oft'ered,  I  could  not  with- 
stand, but  fell  into  the  same  snare  again. 

"  Thus  it  was  with  me,  until  I  came  to  be  about  twelve 
years  of  age ;  although,  to  the  praise  of  the  Lord,  I  was 
preserved  from  any  very  wicked  or  gross  actions." 

"  William  Edmundson,  of  Rosenallis,  that  worthy  and 
honorable  Friend  and  father  in  Israel,  was  concerned 
about  this  time  to  visit  Friends  of  this  province ;  and 
being  at  Cork,  the  eveniug  meeting  fell  in  course  at  the 
house  of  the  widow,  Bridget  Denis,  who  became  a  faith- 
ful Friend,  and  towards  her  latter  end  had  a  testimony 
for  Truth,  and  I  doubt  not  died  in  the  Lord.  To  this 
meeting  I  went  with  great  heaviness  and  sorrow  upon  my 
soul,  under  a  mournful  sense  of  my  repeated  transgres- 
sions against  the  Lord  ;  and  also  with  earnest  cries,  that 
He  would  be  pleased  to  forgive  me,  and  for  the  time  to 


.M»Si:i>lI     IMKH.  (.'»7 

come  graut  ine  power  and  strength  over  tlie  teuiptatious 
of  the  enemy ;  for  I  clearly  saw,  that  I  was  not  capable, 
by  any  ability  of  my  own,  to  preserve  myself  from  the 
least  evil,  agreeably  to  the  saying  oi'  our  blessed  Lord, 
'  Without  me  ye  can  do  nothing.'  I  sat  down  in  the 
meeting  full  of  sorrow  ;  and  Wm.  Edmundson's  testimony 
so  reached  my  inward  state  and  condition,  and  pierced 
my  very  soul,  that  I  could  not  refrain  crying  out  in  the 
meeting,  under  a  sense  of  my  sins,  and  of  the  Lord's 
terrors  and  judgments,  which  I  then  felt  beyond  what  I 
had  ever  before  experienced.  And  I  was,  at  that  time, 
as  trul)''  baptized  by  the  powerful  preaching  of  the  word 
of  life  by  him,  as  those  were,  to  whom  the  Apostle  Peter 
preached  ;  Acts  ii.  37.  Then,  oh  then,  were  my  sins,  and 
the  sinfulness  of  them  set  before  me ;  and  in  the  agony 
and  bitterness  of  my  soul,  I  secretly  cried  unto  the  Lord 
for  the  pardon  and  remission  of  them,  with  humble  pray- 
ers unto  Hi^n,  that  He  A\ould  be  pleased  to  enable  me  by 
His  Holy  Spirit  to  walk  more  circumspectly  for  the  time 
to  come,  and  do  His  holy  will,  and  that  I  might  truly 
serve  and  worship  Him  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 

"But  the  Lord's  heavy  judgments  continued  upon  me 
foi"  a  considerable  time,  how  long  I  cannot  exactly  re- 
member, but  I  believe  for  some  mouths,  uutil  I  became 
obedient  to  His  divine  Light  and  good  Spirit  in  my  soul, 
without  which  I  could  not  perform  anything  that  was  ac- 
ceptable to  God.  And  I  have  since  found  by  living  ex- 
perience, that  although  our  Lord  and  Sijiviour  Jesus 
Christ,  by  His  sutl'erings  and  death,  placed  me  and  all 
mankind  in  a  condition  capable  of  salvation,  yet  the 
completion  thereof  was,  and  is,  in  our  obedience  to  His 
Holy  Spirit,  a  measure  of  which  according  to  Scripture, 
He  hath  given  to  each  of  us  'to  profit  withal,'  that  we 
nuiy  therel)y  work  out  our  own  salvation. 

"  After  the  ba])tizing  power  of  tin;  Jj(jrd  iiad  thus  seized 


08  .lOSHlMI    PIKK. 

Upon  me,  I  had  (loiiiinioii  given  me  over  those  teniptations 
which  had  before  so  often  prevailed  upon  me,  and  1  grew 
easier  in  spirit  and  had  great  sweetness  and  comfort.  My 
companions  wondered  at  this  alteration  ;  and  when  I 
passed  them  in  the  street,  I  have  overheard  them  say  one 
to  another,  "What's  the  matter  with  Joe  Pike?  he  won't 
speak  to  us;'  at  which  I  rejoiced  greatly  in  my  heart, 
with  humble  thanks  to  the  Lord,  that  he  had  given  me 
so  much  power  and  victory  over  the  temptations  into 
which  I  had  before  so  often  fallen.  Then  did  I  begin  to 
love  the  Lord,  and  I  delighted  to  turn  my  mind  inward, 
and  diligently  to  wait  upon  Him,  by  the  help  of  His  Holy 
Spirit,  by  which  I  gradually  grew  in  experience  and 
knowledge  of  the  things  of  God.  Oh  then,  how  did  I 
love  to  go  to  meetings  !  and  I  longed  for  the  meeting  days  ; 
and  when  there,  endeavored  to  have  my  mind  inwardly  ex- 
ercised towards  the  Lord,  whom  I  loved  with  all  the  powers 
of  my  soul.  Oh  !  how  near  and  dear  to  me  were  the  faith- 
ful, ministering  servants  of  the  Lord,  as  also  other  faith- 
ful Friends,  in  whose  company  I  greatly  delighted,  an<l 
loved  to  hear  them  speak  of  the  things  of  God  ;  my  mind 
being  wholly  taken  off  from  the  vanities,  plays. and  pas- 
times of  the  world  ;  all  was  nothing  to  me  !  And  when  I 
could,  I  went  into  some  secret  place  to  wait  upon  the  Lord, 
and  there  I  poui'ed  out  my  soul  unto  Him,  with  overflow- 
ing te^rs  of  joy,  that  He  had  so  mercifully  wrought  this 
great  change  in  me  ;  and  I  may  say,  with  humble  thanks- 
giving and  praise  to  His  holy  name,  that  He  was  pleased 
to  accept  of  my  tender  offering  of  a  broken  heart,  in  return- 
ing upon  my  soul  at  times  the  sweet  incomes  of  His  divine 
power  and  living  presence,  to  the  overcon^ng  of  my  spirit 
with  unutterable  joy.     '''     *     * 

"  The  remembrance  of  such  seasons  is  renewed  Avithin 
me  at  this  time,  for  which  my  soul  is  melted  into  tender- 
ness, with  humble  thanksgiving  and   praise  to  His  Holy 


.lOSKlMl     I'lKK.  *jy 

aud  Divine  Majesty,  that  He  has  kept  iiie  alive  in  Spirit 
iK^w  to  old  age,  to  bear  this  testimouy  for  Hiin  from  iiiy 
owu  experience,  that  His  holy  truth  waxes  not  old  as 
doth  a  garment ;  for  although  I  am  decayed  in  body,  and 
through  the  weakness  thereof,  seem  to  be  near  the  brink 
of  the  grave,  yet  to  the  praise  of  the  Lord  I  can  say,  I  am 
as  strong  in  Him  and  in  the  power  of  His  might,  and  feel 
my  spirit  as  zealous  for  His  holy  name  and  testimony,  as 
at  any  time  of  my  life ;  for  which,  all  that  is  within  me 
magnifies  and  extols,  even  Avith  my  mouth  in  the  dust, 
the  holy  and  eternal  name  of  the  Lord  of  Heaveu  and 
earth,  who  liveth  for  ever  and  ever  I 

"Before  I  had  reached  my  fourteenth  year,  by  the 
Lord's  Holy  Spirit  working  in  me,  I  came  to  witness  a 
state  of  purity,  holiness  and  innocency  ;  in  which,  not  so 
much  as  a  vain  or  foolish  thought  could  arise  in  my  mind, 
but  the  holy  Light  of  Christ  did  presently  let  me  see  it 
and  judge  it,  so  that  I  abhorred  all  evil  thoughts,  words 
and  actions,  anil  loved  truth  and  righteousness  with  all 
my  soul.     '■'     '^"     '''■ 

"Notwithstanding  I  had  by  the  power  and  spirit  of  the 
Lord,  attained  to  a  state  of  purity,  yet  alas,  I  lost  it 
again,  for  want  of  true  and  diligent  watchfulness  to  the 
Light,  and  closely  following  the  leadings  of  it,  and  not 
through  any  gross  evil  I  had  committed.  Between  the 
age  of  fourteen  and  fifteen,  I  began  to  grow  more  negli- 
gent in  waiting  upon  the  Lord,  and  thence  into  more 
coldness  of  love  to  Him,  and  so  by  degrees  to  lose  that 
tender  frame  of  spirit  I  had  formerly  witnessed.  And 
then  the  enemy  of  my  soul  tempted  me  with  the  pleasures 
and  vanities  of  the  world,  so  that  my  mind  was  allured 
and  drawn  towards  them,  and  I  did  love  and  delight 
therein.  Among  the  rest  I  was  inclined  to  take  pleasure 
in  fine  apparel,  and  the  like,  as  I  could  get  them,  accord- 
inf  to  my  station,  of  which   I   rcnuMnbci-  a  ])articulai"  in- 

7* 


70  .losKr'ii  I 'IKK. 

rftauce.  Having  got  a  pretty  tiue  new  coat,  the  .spirit  of 
pride  arose  in  me,  and  passing  along  the  street,  (I  renieni- 
ber  the  place,)  I  thought  myself,  as  the  saying  is,  some- 
body ;  but  amidst  these  vain  and  foolish  thoughts,  I  was 
in  an  instant  struck  as  with  an  arrow  from  the  Lord,  and 
it  swiftly  passed  through  my  mind  after  this  manner ; 
'  Poor  wretch !  was  not  Jesus  Christ,  the  Lord  of  heaven 
and  earth,  meek  and  low  of  heart,  and  His  appearance 
mean  on  earth?  He  was  not  proud  and  high  ;  wilt  thou, 
poor  worm,  be  high  and  proud  of  thyself  or  clothes  ?' 
These  thoughts  so  wounded  my  spirit  that  I  went  home 
very  sorrowful  and  dejected ;  but  this  went  otf  in  a  little 
time,  for  the  delights  of  the  world  began  to  take  root  in 
me,  and  my  mind  went  after  them,  by  which  I  was  drawn 
away  from  the  Lord.     *     *     * 

"  When  about  eighteen  years  old,  the  Lord  was  gra- 
ciously pleased  to  grant  me  a  renewed  visitation,  not  in 
that  sudden  and  extraordinary  manner  as  before,  but  in 
a  more  gradual  way.  He  did  arise  and  give  me  a  full 
and  clear  sight  of  my  condition,  and  how  I  was  estranged 
from  Him  in  Spirit;  and  that  if  I  continued  tlierein,  I 
should  grow  hai-der  and  harder,  and  in  the  end,  be  undone 
forever.  The  sense  of  this  brought  me  into  great  horror 
and  distress,  with  bitter  lamentation  ;  under  which  I  lay 
some  time,  until  the  Lord  was  mercifully  pleased  to  tender 
my  spirit  a  little,  and  assist  me  to  pray  unto  Him  for  a 
repentant  heart,  on  account  of  my  past  disobedience,  in 
so  ungratefully  departing  from  Him,  which  indeed  lay  as 
a  mill-stone  upon  my  soul,  and  brought  me  into  sore  agony 
and  distress  of  spirit.  I  then  sought  to  be  alone  in  unseen 
places,  where  I  often  poured  out  my  soul  unto  the  Lord 
with  many  tears,  begging  for  mercy  and  forgiveness ;  for 
I  saw  that  I  had  come  to  a  great  loss,  and  that  I  must 
unlearn  many  things  that  I  had  learned  in  tlie  night  of 
my  apostacy  in  spirit  from  Him,  thnugh  not  in  principle 


JOSEPH    IMKK.  71 

or  profession,  duriug  which  the  evil  root  aud  nature  had 
grown  strong  in  me.  I  also  saw  that  nothing  could  des- 
troy this  but  the  axe,  the  sword,  the  hammer  and  the  fire 
of  His  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  I  must  be  regenerated  and 
born  again,  before  I  could  ever  attain  to  the  condition  I 
had  lost,  aud  which  the  light  of  Jesus  let  me  see  very 
clearly.  *  *  *  My  distress  was  such,  that  if  the  Lord, 
in  mercy,  had  not  pitied  me,  and  by  granting  a  little  hope 
and  ease  of  spirit,  helped  me,  I  believe  I  should  have 
sunk  under  it,  my  misery  was  so  great ;  for  I  was  at  times 
so  overwhelmed  with  sorrow,  that  I  was  almost  in  despair 
of  ever  getting  through  my  afllictions,  fearing  that  I  was 
utterly  forsaken. 

"When  I  had  continued  in  this  state  a  considerable 
season,  ready  to  faint  in  spirit,  the  Lord  did,  in  His  own 
time,  not  in  mine,  neither  in  so  powerful  a  manner  as  I 
desired,  again  arise,  with  a  little  of  the  light  of  His  coun- 
tenance for  the  ease  of  my  distressed  soul;  which  yet  con- 
tinued not  long  with  me.  Then  did  I  fall  again  into  the 
same  misery.  Thus  was  I  afflicted  and  tossed  as  with  a 
tempest,  until  I  was  almost  worn  out  with  sorrow ;  plunged 
into  spiritual  Jordan  or  judgment  again  and  again,  not 
only  seven  times,  but  more  than  seventy  times  seven.  Oh 
the  wormwood  and  the  gall  that  I  was  made  to  drink  of 
in  that  day !  '  my  soul  hath  them  still  in  remembrance 
and  is  humbled  within  rne.'  Yet,  with  thanksgiving  aud 
praise  to  the  holy  name  of  the  Lord,  He  brought  me 
through  at  last,  and  set  my  feet  upon  His  rock.   *     *     * 

"  Though  the  excess  of  my  troubles  and  exercises  wore 
oflTin  a  few  years,  and  I  could,  at  times,  when  so  enabled, 
sing  in  my  soul,  as  well  of  the  Lord's  mercies  as  of  His 
judgments  ;  yet  I  was  not  for  many  years,  at  seasons,  with- 
out sore  fights  of  affliction  with  the  enemy  of  my  soul,  nor 
am  I  to  this  day ;  for  most  certain  it  is,  there  is  no  state 
atlainalde  on  this  side  the  grave,  beyond  that  nf  watch- 


72  JOSEPH  PIKE. 

fulness.  (3ur  Lord  said  to  His  disciples,  *  Watch  and 
pray,  lest  ye  fall  into  temptation.'  I  have  compared  the 
soul  of  man  to  an  outward  garden  ;  though  it  be  cleansed 
from  weeds,  yet  as  it  naturally  produces  them,  if  it  be  not 
watched  and  kej)t  clean,  the  noxious  and  troublesome 
w^eeds  will  sprout  again,  and  if  suffered  to  grow,  will  choke 
the  tender  and  good  seed  sown.  Our  hearts  are  '  deceit- 
ful above  all  things,'  and'  naturally  prone  to  evil,  and  as 
the  prophet  adds,  '  desperately  wicked ;'  and  though  by 
the  power  and  sword  of  the  Lord's  spirit,  many  things 
may  be  as  it  were  destroyed  and  dead,  yet  if  we  do  not 
diligently  watch  in  the  Light,  the  enemy  will  steal  in 
again,  and  revive  some  of  those  things  which  appeared  to 
be  eradicated,  especially  such  as  we  are  naturally  most* 
inclined  to." 

In  this  instructive  narrative,  Joseph  Pike  speaks  of 
being  led  astray  in  his  very  young  years,  by  his  fondness 
for  youthful  pastimes.  The  inference  to  be  drawn  from 
this  is,  not  that  playfulness  in  a  child  is  wrong  in  itself, 
l)ut  that  like  all  other  things  it  must  be  kept  within  such 
limits  as  the  Witness  for  truth  in  the  heart  shows  to  be 
needful  for  the  peace  and  safety  of  each  individual.  The 
enemy  of  all  good  adapts  his  temptations  to  the  varied 
circumstances  of  all.  While  he  would  lead  the  child  to 
excessive  indulgence  in  the  playful  sports  adapted  to  youth, 
and  thus  prevent  him  from  heeding  the  voice  of  the  Spirit 
of  Truth ;  he  endeavors  to  absorb  the  thoughts  of  older 
persons  with  the  business  or  pursuits  of  ordinary  life. 
The  path  of  safety  is  the  same  for  all — obedience  to  those 
restraints  and  directions  impressed  on  the  mind  by  Divine 
Grace. 


SAMUEL    IJOWxNA.s. 


SAMUEL    B0WNA8. 


78 


Samuel  Bowxas,  was  for  more  than  fifty  years  au  ac- 
tive laborer  iu  tlie  work  of  the  Gospel,  aucl  in  that  service 
travelled  iu  the  continent  of  America,  as  well  as  in  his 
native  country,  Great  Britain.  From  a  review  of  the 
dealings  of  the  Almighty  with  him,  which  he  wrote  in 
advanced  life,  it  will  be  seen  that  his  prompt  and  full 
submission  to  the  Heavenly  visitation  with  which  he  was 
favored,  was  followed  by  au  unusually  speedy  call  to  enter 
on  the  work  of  the  ministry.     He  says, 

"  I  was  born  in  Westmoreland,  within  the  compass  of 
Great  Strickland  Monthly  Meeting,  about  the  year  1676. 
My  father  died  before  I  was  one  month  old ;  but  I  have 
been  informed  that  he  was  very  honest  and  zealous  for 
Truth  in  his  time,  having  been  a  considerable  sufferer  for 
the  cause  of  religion,  both  in  loss  of  goods  and  liberty,  the 
meeting  being  kept  in  his  house  iu  some  of  the  hottest 
times  of  persecution  in  King  Charles  the  Second's  reign. 
Being  left  so  young,  and  my  mother  having  but  a  scanty 
subsistence  of  about  four  pounds  and  ten  shillings  a  year, 
with  a  dwelling  for  herself  and  two  children,  at  about  thir- 
teen years  of  age  I  was  put  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  black- 
smith, with  an  uncle,  who  used  me  unkindly.  I  was  after- 
ward placed  apprentice  to  a  very  honest  Friend  belonging 
to  Brigflatt«  meeting,  near  Sedberg  in  Yorkshire,  whose 
name  was  Samuel  Parrott.  All  this  time  I  had  no  taste 
of  religion,  but  devoted  myself  to  pleasure,  as  much  as  my 
circumstances  would  permit,  though  my  mother  had  kept 
me  very  strictly  while  I  was  under  her  care.  Slu;  would 
frequently  in  winter  evejiings  take  o})i)ortuniti('s  to  tell 
me  passages  of  dear  father's  sufi'erings,  admonishing  me 
so  to  live,  that  I  might  be  worthy  to  bear  the  name  of  so 
good  a  man's  son,  and  not  bring  a  re))riiacli  on  myself  and 


74  SAMUEL    JiOWNAS. 

parents  :  also  putting  me  in  mind,  that  if  she  should  be 
taken  away,  I  should  greatly  miss  her  both  for  advice  and 
other  ways  to  assist  me  ;  and  advised  me  to  fear  the  Lord 
now  in  my  youth,  that  I  might  be  favored  with  His  bless- 
ing. These  admonitions  at  times  brought  me  into  great 
tenderness,  being  afraid  she  would  die  before  I  was  capa- 
ble to  live  in  the  world ;  and  she  took  me  frequently  to 
meetings  with  her,  where  she  often  had  some  words  in 
testimony.  Persecution  being  still  very  hot,  and  Friends 
locked  out  of  their  house  at  Strickland,  we  met  at  the  door, 
and  I  remember  when  I  was  a  child,  and  went  to  meet- 
ing with  my  mother,  the  informers  came  twice ;  the  first 
time  the  meeting  had  been  over  about  half  an  hour,  the 
second  time  not  quite  so  long,  so  that  we  escaped  their 
hands  both  times.  Many  Friends  were  in  prison  at  Ap- 
pleby for  attending  that  meeting,  whom  my  dear  mother 
went  to  visit,  taking  me  along  with  her,  and  we  had  a  meet- 
ing Avith  the  prisoners,  several  Friends  from  other  places 
being  likewise  there  by  appointment.  I  observed,  though 
very  young,  how  tender  and  broken  they  were  ;  and  I  was 
very  inquisitive  of  my  mother,  why  they  cried  so  much, 
and  thee  too,  said  I,  why  did  thee  ?  She  told  me  that  I 
could  not  understand  the  reason  of  it  then,  but  when  T 
grew  up  more  to  man's  estate  I  might. 

"  To  return  to  my  apprenticeship  ;  I  had  a  Very  kind 
loving  master  and  mistress,  but  who  had  little  considera- 
tion about  religion,  nor  any  taste  thereof.  On  First-days 
I  frequented  meetings,  and  the  greater  2:)art  of  my  time  I 
slept,  but  took  no  account  of  preaching,  nor  received  any 
other  benefit,  than  that  being  there  kept  me  out  of  bad  com- 
pany, which  indeed  is  a  very  great  service  to  youth.  I  took 
much  liberty  in  discourse,  and  was  taken  notice  of,  as  a 
witty,  sensible  young  man :  but  often  on  my  bed  I  reflected 
on  my  way  of  life  with  sorrow,  yet  frequently  fell  into  the 
same  way  again.     I  was  never  given  to  swearing,  nor  to 


SAMUEL    BOWXAS.  (5 

tiiiy  very  gro.^.s  vice,  but  what  I  gave  way  to  most,  wa.-< 
jesting,  and  turns  of  wit  to  provoke  mirth,  which  gave  me 
often,  after  it  was  over,  a  heavy  heart.  Thus  I  went  on 
for  nearly  three  years  ;  but  one  First-day,  being  at  meet- 
ing, a  young  woman,  named  Anne  Wilson  was  there  and 
j^reached.  She  was  very  zealous,  and  I  fixing  my  eye 
upon  her,  she,  with  a  great  zeal,  pointed  her  finger  at  me, 
uttering  these  words  with  much  power  :  '  A  traditional 
Quaker,  thou  comest  to  meeting  as  thou  went  from  it  the 
last  time,  and  goest  from  it  as  thou  came  to  it,  but  art  no 
better  for  thy  coming ;  what  wilt  thou  do  in  the  end  ?' 
This  was  so  suited  to  my  condition,  that,  like  8aul,  I  was 
smitten  to  the  ground,  but  turning  my  thoughts  inward, 
in  secret  I  cried.  Lord,  Avhat  shall  I  do  to  help  it  ?  And 
a  voice  as  it  were  spoke  in  my  heart,  saying.  Look  unto 
me,  and  I  will  help  thee;  and  I  found  much  comfort, 
which  made  me  shed  abundance  of  tears.  Then  I  remem- 
bered what  my  mother  told  me  some  years  before,  that 
when  I  grew  up  more  to  man's  estate,  I  should  know  the 
reason  of  that  tenderness  and  weeping,  which  I  now  did 
to  purpose.  I  went  home  with  a  heavy  heart,  and  could 
neither  eat  nor  sleep  as  I  used  to  do,  but  my  work  never 
succeeded  better  in  my  hands  than  it  did  at  this  time,  nor 
was  my  mind  ever  less  in  it.  My  conduct,  as  well  as 
countenance,  was  much  altered,  so  that  several  in  the 
family  were  fearful  that  I  should  fall  into  a  kind  of 
melancholy ;  but  I  longed  for  the  meeting-day  and  thought 
it  a  very  long  week.  When  the  time  of  meeting  came, 
my  mind  was  soon  fixed  and  staid  upon  God,  and  I  foiiud 
an  uncommon  enjoyment  that  gave  me  great  satisfaction, 
my  understanding  being  opened,  and  all  the  faculties  of 
uiy  mind  so  quick,  that  I  seemed  another  man.  A  divine 
and  spiritual  sweetness  abiding  with  me  night  and  day, 
for  some  time,  I  began  to  sec  an<l  understand  the  Hcrip- 
lures,  and  the  nature   of  preaching  the  (locti'inc  of  (he 


76  SAMUEL    BOWXAS. 

gospel  in  the  jiower  and  spirit,  plainly  seeing  the  differ- 
ence between  a  teacher  of  the  letter  and  of  tlie  spirit, 
which  till  then  I  was  wholly  ignorant  of,  not  having  before 
that,  the  least  degree  that  I  could  perceive  of  Divine  un- 
derstanding. But  upon  looking  back  and  considering 
what  I  had  heard  such  and  such  Friends  preach,  which 
at  that  time  I  did  not  understand,  I  now  understood  it 
clearly,  which  was  a  plain  demonstration  to  me,  that  all 
saving  knowledge  is  from  Divine  light,  which  we  cannot 
comprehend,  until  we  are  assisted  so  to  do  by  a  visitation 
from  Heaven. 

"  Now  the  Scriptures  and  ministry  from  the  openings 
of  the  Spirit,  seemed  so  clear  and  plain  to  my  understand- 
ing, that  I  wondered  anybody  remained  unconvinced,  sup- 
posing them  to  see  the  truths  of  the  gospel  in  the  same 
light  that  I  did.  That  saying  of  the  apostle,  wherein  he 
asserts  his  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God  being  come,  to 
be,  by  '  receiving  an  understanding  from  Him,'  was  clearly 
discovered  to  me,  so  that  I  plainly  saw  a  distinction  between 
the  children  of  light,  and  the  children  of  this  world — the 
spiritual  and  the  iuitural  man  ;  and  that  the  natural  man 
could  not  receive  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  being- 
foolishness  to  him ;  he  cannot  know  them,  because  they 
are  known  '  only  by  the  Spirit,'  as  the  apostle  asserts ; 
and  I  found  myself  much  improved  in  Divine  wisdom  and 
saving  knowledge. 

"  As  I  was  going  to  meeting,  walking  alone,  it  came 
very  liviugly  into  my  mind,  that  if  I  was  but  faithful  and 
obedient  to  the  heavenly  vision,  I  should  soon  be  c[ualified 
to  teach  others,  and  more  especially,  as  I  saw  by  experi- 
ence wherein  ray  shortness  had  been,  in  being  contented 
and  easy  with  a  form  of  truth  and  religion,  which  I  had 
only  by  education,  being  brought  up  in  plainness  of  both 
habit  and  speech;  but  all  this,  though  very  good  in  its 
place,  did  not  make  me   a  trLU>  Cyhristian  ;  I  was   liut  a 


SAMUEL    BOAVXAS,  i  ( 

traditional  Quaker,  and  that  by  educatiou  ouly,  and  not 
from  the  .S('ri|)tures,  because  they  were  a  book  sealed  to 
nie.  And  I  now  saw  plainly,  that  education,  though 
ever  so  carefully  administered,  would  not  do  the  work ; 
although  a  pious  education  ought  by  no  means  to  be  ne- 
glected, but  all  parents  and  guardians  ought  to  be  stirred 
up  to  their  duty  in  that  respect ;  yet  we  must  consider,  that 
it  is  not  in  the  power  of  parents,  or  the  most  pious  tutors, 
to  confer  grace,  which  is  the  gift  of  God  alone  ;  nor  can 
any  come  into  the  true  fold  but  by  this  door,  as  said  our 
Saviour  concerning  himself.  It  plainly  appeared  to  me, 
there  was  no  other  way  but  this,  viz.  by  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
alone,  to  attain  to  true  faith,  which  works  by  love,  and 
gives  victory  over  our  infirmities  and.  evil  deeds,  working 
such  a  change  in  us,  that  we  can  in  truth,  from  experi- 
ence, say,  '  we  are  born  from  above  ;'  and  by  virtue  of  that 
birth  only,  is  the  true  knowledge  of  the  kingdom  and  the 
things  of  God  attained,  and  by  no  other  way  or  means, 
although  ever  so  well  contrived  by  human  art.  Being 
experimentally  sensible  of  this  change  wrought  in  my 
mind,  it  looked  the  more  likely  that  I  might,  in  time,  be 
qualified  to  speak  to  others  of  my  own  experience  of  the 
operation  of  the  Spirit  in  my  mind,  not  thinking  the  time 
so  near  at  hand,  as  it  appeared  when  I  came  to  the  meet- 
ing ;  for  I  had  not  sat  long  therein,  when  a  great  weight 
fell  upon  me,  with  some  words  to  speak ;  but  I  considered, 
being  willing  to  be  my  own  carver,  that  it  was  too  soon  to 
undertake  such  a  task,  being  but  an  infant  in  religion  ; 
not  remembering  the  small  time  between  Paul's  conver- 
sion and  his  preaching  the  gospel.  My  former  conduct 
with  my  companions,  many  of  whom  were  in  the  meeting 
at  the  same  time,  also  stood  much  in  my  way,  for  my  re- 
formation was  but  three  weeks  old  that  very  day,  so  that 
T  concluded,  so  sudden  a  change  would  hardly  be  borne. 
r  did  not  at  thai  tin)(\  for  thes(>  reasons  give  u|),  and  the 
s 


78  .SAMUEI.    BOWK  AS. 

hurtheu  was  takeu  from  me.  But  ai'ter  meeting  it  came 
ii})OU  me  again  with  double  weight,  and  aft'ected  me  so 
very  greatly,  that  I  was  much  alone,  and  my  countenance 
so  altered  with  weeping,  that  my  master  took  occasion 
to  inquire  how  it  was  with  me.  I  gave  him  as  plain 
an  account  as  I  was  capable  of,  with  which  he  was  much 
affected  and  broken  into  tears.  I  feared  that  I  had  by 
disobedience  so  much  offended,  that  I  should  be  cast  off 
forever  ;  but  with  exhortations  from  Scripture  and  other- 
wise, he  endeavored  to  pacify  me,  not  doubting  but  that 
I  should  again  have  the  like  offer  made  me,  jjutting  me 
in  mind  of  Gideon's  fleece,  &c. 

''  When  next  meeting  day  came,  I  went  in  great  weak- 
ness and  fear,  and  would  rather  have  gone  elsewhere  than 
to  meeting.  Sometime  after  I  was  iu  the  meeting,  I  felt 
the  same  concern  as  before,  and  sat  under  the  weight  of 
it,  till  the  meeting  was  almost  over,  and  then  hardly  knew 
how  I  got  upon  my  feet,  but  did,  and  broke  out  with  a 
loud  voice  in  these  words,  '  Fear  not  them  which  kill  the 
body,  l)ut  are  not  able  to  kill  the  soul ;  but  rather  fear 
Him  which  is  able  to  destroy  both  body  and  soul  iu  hell. 
I  say  fear  you  Him  who  w'ill  terribly,  shake  the  earth, 
that  all  which  is  movable  may  be  shaken  and  removed 
out  of  the  way,  that  that  which  is  uumovable  may  stand.' 
This  was  all  I  had  to  say  at  that  time.  But  oh  !  the  joy 
and  sweetness  I  felt  afterward,  I  cannot  express,  and  the 
j)leasure  of  my  mind  appeared  in  ray  countenance,  so  that 
my  master  took  notice  of  it,  and  spoke  so  feelingly  as 
plainly  demonstrated  he  was  a  partaker  W'ith  me  of  the 
same  rejoicing." 

Though  Samuel  Bownas  was  thus  early  brought  for- 
ward in  public  religious  labor,  yet  he  experienced  a  share 
of  those  trials  and  exercises  of  spirit  which  always  attend 
the  progress  of  the  true  followers  of  a  crucified  Saviour. 
Thus  soon  after  his  ap[)renticeshi})  had  expired  he  felt  a 


SAMl'EIv    FOTHEIUar.L.  79 

concern  to  visit  Scotland.    In  this  journey,  he  says,  '•'  Tlic 
poverty  of  my  spirit  was  so  exceedingly  great  and  bitter, 
that  I  could  scarcely  bear  it,  but  cried  out  aloud,  which 
so  surprised  my  companion,  that  being  on  foot,  he  feared 
it  would  be  too  hard  for  me,  for  I  complained  that  I  wa* 
deceived  or  mistaken ;  because  while  I  was  iu  my  master's 
work,  I  rarely  by  night  or  day  was  without  some  degree 
of  Divine  virtue  on  my  mind,  but  now  I  could  feel  nothing 
but  the  bitterness  of  death  and  darkness  ;  all  comfort  was 
hid  from  me  for  a  time,  and  I  was  baptized  into  death  in- 
deed."  xlfter  this  trial  of  his  faith  had  passed  over,  he  thus 
speaks  of  this  proving  season,  and  his  remarks  may  be  an 
encouragement  to  others  who  are  similarly  proved ;  "  The 
Lord  let  me  see  Hi'^  kindness  to  lead  me  through  that 
state  of  poverty,  which  was  of  great  service  to  (pialify  me 
to  .speak  to  others  in  the  like  condition,  and  that  trials  of 
.sundry  kinds  were  for  my  improvement  and  good,  tending 
to  my  establishment  in  the  true  root  of  a  Divine  and 
spiritual  ministry;  and  the  doctrine  of  our  Saviour  and 
His  apf»stle  did  nmch  comfort  me." 

Through  various  exercises  and  conflicts,  Samuel  Bow- 
nas,  was  enabled  to  pursue  the  Christian  journey  to  the 
end  of  the  race.  His  friends  have  left  on  record  this  tes- 
timony to  his  character.  "  His  ministry  was  lively  and 
powerful  to  the  last,  to  the  edification  and  comfort  of  those 
who  were  favored  with  it.  His  removal  was  a  great  lass 
to  Friends  in  these  parts,  but  we  have  reason  to  believe 
it  was  his  great  gain." 


SAMUEL    P^OTHERGILL. 

Samuel  Fothkr(;ill  was  one  of  the  most  oninent 
among  the  ministers  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  about  the 
middle  of  lust  centnrv.     He  was  a  native  of  Yorkshire, 


80  SAMUEL    F<)TI1EK(;ILL. 

EiiglaDcl,  and  wa.s  boru  iu  the  year  1715.  About  the  age 
of  seventeen,  he  was  placed  apprentice,  as  a  shopkeeper, 
with  a  Friend  at  Stockport.  "  He  was  endowed,"  says 
his  biographer,  "  with  considerable  talents  ;  be  had  a 
strong  mind,  and  was  of  an  active,  lively,  and  even  volatile 
disposition."  These  qualities  caused  his  company  to  be 
much  sought  after,  and  early  introduced  him  into  society 
at  Stockport,  of  an  injurious  and  hurtful  character,  cal- 
culated to  dissipate  and  eradicate  those  lessons  of  piety  and 
virtue  which  his  worthy  father  had  earnestly  labored  to 
impress  upon  the  minds  of  all  his  children. 

"  Yielding  to  the  temptations  to  which  he  was  thus  ex- 
posed, Samuel  gave  way  to  the  indulgence  of  his  evil 
passions,  and,  with  his  new  companions,  abandoned  him- 
self to  the  pursuit  of  folly  and  dissipation."  Of  his  own 
condition  at  that  time,  he  thus  speaks — "  I  wandered  far 
from  the  garden  enclosed,  and  laid  myself  open  to  the 
enemy  of  my  soul :  I  kept  the  worst  company,  and  sub- 
jected myself  to  almost  every  temptation,  broke  through 
the  fence  of  the  sacred  iuclosure,  and  trampled  it  under 
my  feet ;  and  when,  for  a  time,  I  found  the  least  inclina- 
tion to  do  good,  evil  was  present  with  me,  and  I  went  on 
from  one  degree  of  iniquity  to  another.  My  wickedness 
so  far  increased  with  my  diligence,  that  at  length,  alas!  I 
beheld  the  strong  wall  broken  down,  the  garden  wall  de- 
stroyed, the  mound  left  defenceless,  and  no  hope  left  of 
returning  peace  to  my  afflicted  soul.  *  '■'  I  strayed  to 
that  degree,  that  my  life  became  a  burden  t<^  me,,  and  I 
wished  that  1  had  never  been  boru." 

Yet  he  was  not  utterly  cast  off  or  forsaken  even  in  the 
midst  of  this  sinful  career.  Many  were  the  strivings  of 
the  Spirit  of  Truth  with  his  soul,  and  frequent  the  visita- 
tions of  Divine  grace.  Many  were  the  deep  trials  and 
conflicts  through  which  he  passed,  alternately  yielding  and 
resisting,  until  at  length  his  spiritual  state  and  his  danger 


SAMUEL    FOTHERGILL.  bl 

were  very  forcibly  brought  before  him,  attended  by  a  deep 
pei-suasiou  that  these  offers  of  mercy  would  be  no  more 
renewed,  and  that  if  he  now  any  longer  resisted,  the  day 
of  his  visitation  would  be  over,  and  his  destruction  cer- 
tain and  inevitable.  So  powerful  was  the  impression,  that 
it  brought  him  into  great  ti'ouble  and  distress,  and  caused 
renewed  and  very  earnest  prayers  for  help  and  strength  ; 
he  cried  mightily  for  deliverance. 

His  father,  John  Fothergill,  was  about  to  embark  for 
a  religious  visit  in  America.  The  conduct  of  his  sou 
Samuel  had  been  as  wormwood  and  gall,  bitter  indeed  to 
his  soul.  Memorable  and  affecting  was  their  last  inter- 
view. After  imparting  to  his  son  deep  and  impressive 
counsel,  he  took  his  leave  in  these  words:  "And  now,  son 
Samuel,  farewell,  farewell — and  unless  it  be  as  a  changed 
man,  I  cannot  say  that  I  have  any  wish  ever  to  see  thee 
again." 

These  parting  expressions,  this  powerful  appeal  from  a 
father,  whom,  notwithstanding  his  disobedience,  he  still 
ten<1erly  loved,  uttered  during  what  might  prove  to  be  the 
last  time  they  should  meet  in  this  life,  together  with  the 
awful  solemnity  and  deep  feeling  with  which  they  were 
accompanied,  produced  a  strong  impression  upon  Sanuiel 
Fothergill  ;  they  remained  as  if  engraven  upon  his  heart, 
and  assisted  to  confirm  and  strengthen  him  in  the  path  of 
repentance  and  conversion  upon  whicii  he  had  entered. 

Yielding  to  the  powerful  convictions  of  Divine  grace, 
he  came  to  feel  the  terrors  of  the  Lord  for  sin,  and  was 
made  willing  to  abide  under  His  righteous  judgment,  be- 
cause he  had  sinned,  and  so  was  brought  into  a  state  of 
deep  repentance  ;  and  as  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the  burn- 
ing, and  as  one  awakened  from  the  sleep  of  death,  iu  due 
time  he  witnessed  a  deliverance  from  the  bondage  of  cor- 
ruption, and  a  being  created  anew  unto  holiness,  the  end 
whereof  is  eternal   life,  through   Jesus  Clirist  our  Lord. 


82  SAMUEL    FOTHEllGJLL. 

lu  a  letter  to  his  sister  dated  2d  mo.  9th,  1787,  he  re- 
lates his  experience  as  follows  : 

"  I  found  upon  examining  my  state,  that  I  was  on  the 
very  brink  of  destruction  and  ruin,  and  it  pleased  the 
Lord  to  kindle  in  my  soul  earnest  desires  to  be  delivered 
from  my  dreadful  condition,  which  the  Lord  in  mercy 
showed  to  me  as  it  really  was  ;  thereby  bringing  me  into 
deep  and  unutterable  anxiety  of  soul.  O,  the  anguish  of 
that  day  ;  the  weight  of  sorrow  I  daily  labored  under  was 
more  than  I  can  express,  or  any,  not  acquainted  with  the 
operation  of  the  Spirit  of  judgment  and  of  burning,  can 
conceive. 

"  But  through  infinite  mercy  I  can  now  say,  with  a 
liumbly  thankful  heart,  it  was  a  repentance  never  to  be 
repented  of;  for  notwithstanding  my  open  rebellion  and 
defiance  to  the  tenderly  sti'iving  Spirit  of  grace,  that  long 
strove  with  me  in  order  for  my  recovery,  I  have  in  a 
degree  witnessed  favor  from  the  Almighty,  and  the  know- 
ledge of  acceptance  with  Him,  which  is  more  to  me  than 
anything  else. 

"Many  yet  continue  to  be  the  deep  and  humbling  times 
I  go  through  ;  many  the  anxieties  of  soul  I  have  to  pass 
under ;  yet  the  Lord  in  mercy  is  at  times  helping  me  over 
everything  that  would  hinder  my  spiritual  progress,  and 
giving  to  find  times  of  refreshment  in  His  Divine  presence." 

In  one  of  S.  Fothergill's  public  discourses,  delivered 
more  than  thirty  years  after  the  time  of  his  reformation  ; 
and  when  long  experience  in  the  work  of  Grace,  and  ex- 
tended o2:)portui)ities  of  observing  its  operations  among 
men,  had  peculiarly  qualified  him  for  forming  a  correct 
judgment  in  spiritual  things  ;  he  thus  refers  to  his  own 
exercises,  and  the  manner  in  wliich  he  was  brought  out 
of  the  darkness  of  sin  into  the  light  of  Christ : 

"  Opinion  resembles  faith  so  much,  that  the  eye  had 
need  be  opened  to  discern  the  difference,  yet  a  great  one 


SAMUEL    FOTIIEEGILL.  H3 

there  is  ;  mauy  have  strong  opiuious  coucerniug  the  work 
of  religion  ;  some  have  looked  upon  it  as  instantaneous, 
some  otherwise.  I  confess,  with  respect  to  that  instan- 
taneous work,  I  have  not  so  learned  Christ;  far  be  it  from 
me  to  judge  another  man's  servant,  but  I  have  not  so 
learned  Christ,  as  to  know  that  to  be  an  instantaneous,  but 
a  gradual  work.  Some  think  there  is  a  sudden  death  to 
sin,  and  a  new  birth  to  righteousness,  in  a  moment.  I 
have  not  traced  the  conduct  of  people  professing  the 
Christian  religion,  with  an  uncharitable  eye  ;  but  I  have 
often  observed  that  instantaneous  work  to  be  of  a  short- 
lived continuance  ;  have  seen  some  recur  back  again  to 
their  sins,  and  their  latter  end  has  been  worse  than  the 
beginning.  When  God  said,  let  there  be  light,  there  was 
light,  a  succession  of  days  and  nights,  the  beauties  of 
creation  were  gradually  brought  forth,  till  man  was  made 
in  God's  image. 

"  I  have  not  been  destitute  of  some  degree  of  religious 
experience ;  the  praise  I  dedicate  to  God,  the  fruits  to 
your  service.  Religion  has  wore  this  aspect  with  me; 
it  has  been  a  gradual  work,  a  gradual  advancement  from 
faith  to  faith  ;  but  when  people  are  enriched  with  unfelt 
truths,  they  call  a  strong  persuasion  of  mind,  faith,  when 
it  is  only  opinion.  Faith  is  promotive  of  redemption,  the 
saints'  victory  ;  this  faith  that  works  by  love,  subverts 
the  strongholds  of  Satan,  restores  people  to  a  state  of  ac- 
ceptance with  God,  impressing  the  features  of  the  King 
of  Heaven  upon  all  their  actions  :  but  this  opinion,  this 
mistaken  opinion,  would  pass  by  redemption  from  all 
iniquity  ;  the  leaven  of  the  kingdom  ;  would  lead  to  a 
variety  of  actions,  abundance  of  w^ords  and  professions, 
and  set  the  mind  afloat  above  that  sacred  leaven,  that 
unspeakable  gift,  which  cannot  be  fully  uttered.  T\n- 
Lord  preserve  us  from  this  dangerous  mistake." 

When  intelligence  of  Samuers  rcforniation  rcMched  his 


84  SAMUEL    FOTHERdlLL. 

father  in  America,  his  heart  was  filled  with  gratitude, 
thouu;!!  hope  was  mingled  with  fear,  as  is  shown  in  a  letter 
to  his  son  Joseph,  which  says  : 

"  What  I  hear  of  and  from  Samuel,  is  as  comfortable 
as  can  be  expected  to  an  affectionate  and  heretofore  deeply 
afflicted  father.  Yet  I  rejoice  not  without  awe  and  fear, 
though  with  lively  hope,  as  he  keeps  duly  mindful  of  his 
unworthiness,  and  under  watchful  fear  lest  anything  that 
is  for  judgment  should  escape." 

John  Fothergiii  was  absent  in  America  nearly  two 
years,  and  it  is  said,*  his  first  interview  with  Samuel  after 
his  return  was  at  York  Quarterly  Meeting.  According 
to  the  account  that  has  been  handed  down,  John  did  not 
arrive  at  York  until  the  morning  of  the  day  of  the  meet- 
ing, and  it  was  late  when  he  entered  the  meeting  house. 
After  a  short  period  of  silence,  he  stood  up,  and  appeared 
in  testimony  ;  but  after  he  had  jjroceeded  a  short  time  he 
stopped,  and  informed  the  meeting  that  his  way  was 
closed  ;  that  what  he  had  before  him  was  taken  away, 
and  was,  he  believed,  given  to  another.  He  resumed  his 
seat,  and  another  Friend  immediately  rose,  and  tiikiugup 
the  subject,  enlarged  upon  it  in  a  weighty  and  impressive 
testimony,  delivered  with  great  power.  It  is  added,  that 
at  the  close  of  the  meeting,  John  Fothergiii  inquired  who 
the  Friend  was  that  had  been  so  remarkably  engaged 
amongst  them,  and  was  iuformed  that  it  was  his  own  son 
Saviuel. 

As  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  Samuel  Fothergiii  labored 
extensively  in  Great  Britain  and  on  the  continent  of 
America ;  and  his  services  were  eminently  attended  with 
Divine  power  and  authority.  For  some  time  before  his 
decease,  his  health  had  been  much  impaired ;  and  towards 
the  close  symptoms  of  confirmed  dropsy  appeared— an 
evidence  that  his  constitution  was  nearly  worn  out.  About 
two  weeks  before  his  death,  lie  addressed  a  farewell  letter 


SAMUEr.    FOTHEHGHJ,.  Si) 

to  his  sister  aud  surviviug  brollier,  in  which  he  thus  sweetly 
refers  to  the  precious  hope  witli   which  he  was  favored  : 

"  Although  ray  house  has  uot  beeu  so  with  God  as  that 
of  some  others  who  have  walked  with  greater  care  from 
earliest  youth  with  Him  ;  yet  now,  though  in  great  bodily 
weakness,  His  candle  shines  around  mine  head,  aud  at 
times  an  unshaken  hope  that  the  God  of  our  fathers  will 
condescend  in  the  multitude  of  his  mercies,  to  receive  me 
into  His  rest,  and  that  I  shall  not  die  as  the  fool  dieth  : 
aud  this  abundantly  supports,  and  enables  me  to  give 
what  I  think  is  my  dying  testimony :  That  He  is  good,  and 
His  mercy  endureth  forever." 

In  a  solemn  and  affecting  interview  with  some  of  his  re- 
latives, who  were  about  to  set  out  to  attend  the  Yearly 
Meeting  in  Loudon,  he  made  use  of  the  following  expres- 
sions : 

"  Though  paiufid  my  nights,  and  wearisome  my  days, 
yet  I  am  preserved  in  patience  and  resignation.  Death 
has  no  terrors,  nor  will  the  grave  have  any  victory!  My 
soul  triuniphs  over  death,  hell  and  the  grave. 

"  The  Lord  knows  best  what  is  best  for  us  ;  I  am  con- 
tent aud  resigned  to  His  will.  I  feel  the  foretaste  of  the 
joy  that  is  to  come ;  and  who  would  wish  to  change  such 
a  state  of  mind.  I  should  be  glad  if  an  easy  channel 
could  be  found  to  inform  the  Yearly  Meeting,  that  as  I 
have  lived,  so  I  shall  close,  with  the  most  unshaken  assur- 
ance that  we  have  not  followed  cunningly  devised  fables, 
but  the  pure,  living,  eternal  substauce. 

"  If  I  be  now  removed  out  of  the  church  militant,  where 
I. have  endeavored  in  some  raea.sure  to  fill  up  my  duty,  I 
have  an  evidence  that  I  shall  gain  an  admittance  into 
His  glorious  church  triumphaut,  far  above  the  heavens." 

Thus  sustained  by  an  unwavering  faith  in  the  goodness 
of  the  Lord,  Samuel  Fothergill  died  on  the  l")th  of  the 
6th  mo.  1772,  in  the  57th  year  of  his  age. 


86  JOHN    CHUIiCHMAN'. 


JOHN     CHURCHMAN. 

John  Churchman  was  boru  at  Nottiugham,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1705.  He  has  left  an  account  of  his  travels 
towards  the  Spiritual  Canaan,  in  which  he  says: 

"  I  early  felt  reproof  for  bad  words  and  actions,  yet 
knew  not  whence  it  came,  until  about  the  age  of  eight 
years,  as  I  sat  in  a  small  meeting,  the  Lord  by  His  heav- 
enly love  and  goodness,  overcame  and  tendered  my  heart, 
and  by  His  glorious  light  discovered  to  me  the  knowledge 
of  Himself.  I  saw  myself  and  what  I  had  been  doing, 
and  what  it  was  which  had  reproved  me  for  evil,  '  * 
yet  blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord !  in  His  in- 
finite mercy  and  goodness  He  clearly  informed  me,  that 
if  I  would  mind  the  discoveries  of  His  pure  light  for  the 
future,  what  I  had  done  in  tlie  time  of  my  ignorance,  He 
would  wink  at  and  Ibrgive  ;  and  the  stream  of  love  which 
filled  my  heart  with  solid  joy  at  that  time,  and  lasted  foi- 
many  days,  is  beyond  all  expression. 

"Notwithstanding  I  had  been  favored  as  befi)re  men- 
tioned, yet  as  I  grew  in  years,  I  was  much  given  to  ])Iay, 
and  began  to  delight  again  in  several  things,  for  which  I 
had  before  been  reproved,  and  by  this  Divine  witness  in 
ray  mind  was  still  brought  under  judgment  for  ;  but  hav- 
ing lost  my  innocence,  I  endeavored,  through  fear  to  fly 
from  the  voice  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  my  own  heart.  The 
enemy  persuaded  me,  that  I  could  never  be  restored  to 
my  former  state,  because  I  had  sinned  against  so  great 
knowledge,  or  if  I  was,  that  the  judgment  through  which 
I  must  pass,  would  be  intolerable,  so  that  I  had  better  be 
cheerful,  and  take  ray  ease  and  delight.  But  ray  gracious 
Lord  still  favored  me  with  conviction,  His  Spirit  bearing 
witness  against  me.  By  outward  correction  with  sick- 
ness and  inward  judgment,  He  was  i)leased  to  draw  me  to 


JOHN    CHUKfllMAN,  87 

Himself,  which  caused  nie  to  renew  my  ('ovenaut  with 
Hini,  aucl  I  hoped  never  more  to  stray  from  Him  to  fol- 
low lying  vanities,  whose  sweets  I  had  experienced  to  be 
exceeding  bitterness  in  the  end. 

"  I  retained  my  care  and  circumspection  for  some  time  ; 
but  through  un watchfulness  and  a  desire  for  play,  which 
led  into  lightness  and  forgetfulness,  I  lost  this  state  be- 
fore I  was  twelve  years  of  age  ;  and  though  the  Lord  was 
near,  and  followed  me  by  His  reproof,  in  order  to  bring 
me  under  judgment,  I  fled  from  it  as  much  as  I  could. 
I  let  in  a  belief,  that  as  I  had  been  favored  to  taste  in  so 
wonderful  a  manner,  '  of  the  good  word  of  life,  and  pow- 
ers of  the  world  to  come,'  and  had  so  shamefully  fallen 
away,  there  remained  for  me  no  more  sacrifice  for  sin  ; 
but  a  fearful  looking  for  of  judgment  and  fiery  indigna- 
tion, which,  as  I  thought,  burned  in  me  to  that  degree 
that  I  was  afraid  to  be  alone.  I  was  not  willing  that 
good  Friends  should  take  notice  of  me,  or  look  me  steadily 
in  the  face ;  for  I  thought  they  would  discern  my  wicked- 
ness, and  it  would  be  a  trouble  to  them ;  or  their  reproving 
me  would  add  to  my  distress. 

During  this  time  I  was  diligent  in  attending  meetings, 
lioping  at  seasons  that  the  Lord  would  condescend  once 
more  to  visit  me;  for  a  saying  of  an  eminently  pious  man 
was  revived  in  my  remembrance,  '  That  if  there  remained 
a  desire  in  the  heart  after  redemption,  as  it  was  kept  to, 
the  Lord  would  again  assuredly  visit  such  in  His  own 
time.'  I  was  therefore  fearful  of  neglecting  meetings,  lest 
1  might  miss  of  the  good  intended  for  me ;  yet  the  subtle 
working  of  the  power  of  darkness  was  very  great,  suggest- 
ing to  me  that  all  things  came  by  nature,  and  that  there 
was  no  God,  no  heaven,  no  devil,  no  punishment  for  evil, 
religion  a  jest,  and  painful  care  about  futurity  a  silly 
whim,  propagated  to  deprive  people  of  pleasure.  But, 
blessed  be  the  Lord!  He  preserve<l  me  tVom  tliis  snare; 


88  JOHN    CHURCHMAN. 

for  whilst  I  felt  His  judgments  for  sin,  I  believed  in  his 
being  and  holiness;  and  I  am  indeed  fully  of  the  mind, 
that  no  man  can  be  an  atheist  before  he  acts  contrary  to 
knowledge,  when,  to  allay  the  horror  and  anguish  of  mind 
he  feels  for  the  commission  of  sin,  he  closes  in  with  this 
temptation. 

In  this  state  I  continued  until  I  was  about  nineteen 
years  of  age,  and  as  I  was  one  day  walking  to  meeting, 
thinking  on  ray  forlorn  condition,  and  remembering  the 
bread  in  my  Heavenly  Father's  house,  of  which  I  had 
partaken  when  I  was  a  dutiful  child,  and  that  by  stray- 
ing from  Him,  and  spending  my  portion,  I  had  been  eight 
years  in  grievous  want,  I  inwai'dly  cried,  if  thou  art 
pleased  again  to  visit  me,  I  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  visit  my 
body  with  sickness,  or  pain,  or  whatever  thou  may  please, 
so  that  the  will  of  the  old  man  may  be  slain,  and  every 
thing  in  me  that  thy  controversy  is  against,  that  I  may 
be  made  a  sanctified  vessel  by  thy  power. 

"  I  spent  nearly  a  year  in  the  condition  above  men- 
tioned ;  ofteu  out  of  hope  of  ever  attaining  to  the  state  I 
had  witnessed  when  very  young ;  but  in  the  fall  of  the 
year  after  I  had  arrived  to  the  age  of  twenty  years,  it 
pleased  the  Lord  to  remember  me,  and  by  His  righteous 
judgments  mixed  with  unspeakable  mercies,  to  make  way 
for  my  deliverance.  I  was  visited  with  a  sore  fit  of  sick- 
ness, which  in  a  few  days  so  fully  awakened  me,  that  I 
had  no  hope  of  being  again  entrusted  with  health.  My 
misspent  time,  and  all  my  transgressions  were  brought  to 
my  remembrance,  and  heavy  judgment  was  upon  me  for 
them.  I  was  met  with  in  this  narrow  path,  and  could  no 
longer  fly  from  God  and  His  Spirit  in  my  conscience.  I 
thought  I  had,  as  it  were,  heard  an  act  of  grace  and  free 
pardon  repeatedly  proclaimed,  if  I  would  return  and  live 
uprightly  for  the  future ;  but  in  the  time  of  such  visita- 
tions, I  concluded  it  was  only  to  bring  me  under  judg- 


•lOHX   (Ml'IvTiniAN.  89 

meiit  and  to  take  nie  from  ray  pleasiiro,  I'or  tliat  luy 
offences  would  never  be  pardoned,  and  so  I  had  withstood 
or  neglected  those  visitations.  I  now  saw  clearly,  that 
herein  I  had  followed  the  lying  suggestions  of  Satan,  my 
enemy.  At  this  time  my  old  will  in  the  fallen  nature 
gave  up  its  life,  and  I  cried,  '  I  am  not  worthy  to  live  or 
enjoy  thy  favor,  yet  O  Lord  !  if  thou  wilt  be  pleased  to 
look  on  me  with  an  eye  of  pity,  do  what  thou  wilt  Avith 
me,  magnify  thy  own  name,  prepare  me  by  thy  judgments 
and  power  that  thy  mercy  may  be  shown  in  and  by  me, 
whether  thou  cut  the  thread  of  my  life,  or  shall  grant  me 
more  days,  which  is  only  in  thy  power.'  My  heart  was 
made  exceedingly  tender,  1  wept  much,  and  an  evidence 
was  given  me,  that  the  Lord  had  heard  ray  cry,  and  in 
mercy  looked  down  on  me  from  His  holy  habitation,  and 
a  willing  heart  was  given  me,  and  patience  to  bear  His 
chastisements  and  the  working  of  His  eternal  Word,  which 
created  all  things  at  the  beginning,  and  by  which  only 
poor  fallen  man  is  created  anew  in  the  heavenly  image, 
and  prepared  to  praise  Him  with  acceptance,  who  lives 
for  ever  and  ever. 

"Whilst  I  lay  in  this  condition  1  said  little  or  nothing, 
but  was  quite  sensible,  yet  exceedingly  weakened,  having 
for  about  twenty-four  hours  felt  more  inward  and  inex- 
pressible anguish,  than  outward  pain.  Toward  the  morn- 
ing of  the  fifth  day  and  night  of  my  illness  I  felt  the  in- 
(•ojnes  and  o\ming  of  Divine  love  in  a  greater  degree  than 
ever ;  for  the  prospect  I  had  of  so  great  forgiveness  made 
me  love  the  more,  for  love  is  ever  reciprocal.  I  saw  the 
morning  light,  and  thought  all  things  looked  new  and 
sweet. 

"  It  pleased  the  Lord  to  restore  me,  so  that  I  recovered 
my  usual  strength,  and  was  frequently  humbled  under  a 
-t'jise  of  the  tender  dealings  of  a  merciful  (xod,  whose 
gootlness  and  uwiiiiiL;-  love  1  frli  lo  l»c  vcrv  iicar.      I  ihcii 


90  JOHN    CHUKCmiAN, 

loved  retirement  and  to  feel  after  the  incomes  of  life,  and 
was  often  fearful  lest  I  should  again  fall  away. 

"  It  is  a  great  favor  that  the  Lord  is  pleased  to  cover 
Hi.s  children  with  His  pure  fear,  and  to  array  their  souls 
with  the  garment  of  humility,  that  they  may  stand  in  His 
presence  with  acceptance.  In  a  degree  of  reverent  thank- 
fulness, I  bless  the  name  of  the  Lord  through  His  beloved 
Son,  that  according  to  my  measure  I  know  what  I  now 
write  ;  it  was  a  time  of  growing  with  me,  I  rarely  passed 
a  day  without  feeling  the  incomes  of  Divine  life,  and  was 
favored  strongly  to  desire  the  sincere  milk  of  the  holy 
Word,  that  in  humility  I  might  thereby  grow  in  sub- 
stance. But  afterwards  I  was  left  many  days  together, 
without  inward  refreshment,  and  was  ready  to  fear  I  had 
offended  ray  gracious  Redeemer  ;  and  being  thoughtful 
and  inwardly  engaged  to  know  the  cause,  I  had  to  consider 
that  children,  though  they  may  be  thriving,  and  darlings  of 
their  natural  parents,  are  not  fit  for  much  business  until 
they  are  weaned ;  and  although  they  grow  finely,  they 
are  gradually  taught  to  wait  the  appointed  time  between 
meals,  before  they  have  much  care  of  their  father's  busi- 
ness ;  and  are  further  prepared,  so  as  to  miss  a  set  meal, 
or  be  a  longer  time  without  outward  food,  before  they  are 
fit  for  a  journey.  With  these  thoughts  a  hope  began  to 
revive  in  me,  that  I  was  not  forsaken,  of  which  indeed,  as 
I  kept  patient,  I  was  at  times  abundantly  sensible,  even 
those  times  which  are  in  the  Lord's  hand  ;  for  His  children 
experience  that  the  times  of  refreshment  come  from  Him, 
who,  when  He  has  exercised  and  proved  them,  in  His 
infinite  kindness  is  pleased  to  cause  them  to  sit  down,  and 
condescends  himself  to  serve  them.  Blessed  forever  be 
the  name  of  the  Lord  who  knows  how  to  prepare  His 
soldiers  to  remain  faithful,  and  endure  with  patience  what 
the  natural  man  would  count  hardness!" 

John  Churchman   travelled  extensively  as  a    ininistci- 


WliJ-lA.M    SANElfY.  ill 

of  the  Gospel,  ou  the  coutiueut  of  America  and  iu  Eug- 
laud,  where  he  spent  several  years  iu  this  service.  He 
was  a  deeply  experienced  servant  of  the  Lord,  and  the 
Journal  of  his  life  and  labors,  which  he  has  left  behind 
him,  is  one  of  uncommon  value.  In  his  last  illness  he 
passed  through  a_  season  of  much  poverty  of  spirit,  and 
absence  of  any  sensible  feeling  of  Divine  favor.  This  has 
been  the  experience  of  many  faithful  servants,  who  yet 
could  testify  as  John  Cluirchman  did  .•  "  My  present  bap- 
tism of  affliction  hath  tended  to  the  further  refinement  of 
my  nature,  and  to  bring  me  more  perfectly  iutothe  image 
of  my  Master."  This  was  followed  by  a  return  of  heav- 
enly jjeace  and  joy,  so  that  many  times  a  day  he  would 
break  forth  into  a  kind  of  melody  with  his  voice,  without 
uttering  words,  which,  as  he  sometimes  intimated,  was  an 
involuntary  as2)iration  of  his  soul  in  praise  to  tlie  Lord, 
who  had  again  been  pleased  to  shine  forth  in  l)i-ightness 
after  many  days  of  poverty  and  deep  baptism. 

On  the  day  of  his  death,  he  thus  expre.ssed  himself,  "  J 
am  much  refreshed  with  my  Master's  sweet  air ;  I  feel 
more  life,  more  light,  more  love  and  sweetness  than  ever 
before,"  and  often  mentioned  theL>iviue  refreshment  and 
comfort  he  felt  flowing  like  a  pure  stream  to  his  iuuaid 
man. 

His  death  occurred  in  the  vear  177-"). 


WILLIA.M    SAVERY. 

Wn.LlAM  .Savehv  was  a  valuable  minister  iu  the  Soci- 
ety of  Friends.  He  was  born  in  IMiiluddpliia  in  tjie  year 
1750,  and  di(;<l  there  iu  1804.  In  the  exercise  of  his  gift 
as  a  Gospel  minister,  he  travelled  in  different  parts  of  this 
continciit  and  in  I'^nghmd  ami  (Jcnnany.     His  biographer, 


!)::  wr  1,1,1  AM  savkkv. 

who  was  iutimately  acquainted  with  him,  says,  that  his 
ministry  was  "  accompanied  with  a  fervent  engagement 
that  his  audience  might  be  brought  to  an  heartfelt  expe- 
rience of  tlie  unspeakable  love  of  God,  in  sending  His  dear 
Son,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, into  the  world  to  save  sinners; 
of  the  efficacy  of  His  propitiatory  sacrifice,  and  the  sanctify- 
ing power  of  His  Holy  Spirit,  who  hath  by  His  own  blood 
obtained  eternal  redemption  for  all  that  come  unto  Him 
in  true  faith;  at  times  declaring,  with  much  solemnity  and 
reverence,  that  he  would  rather  lose  all  he  had  in  the  world, 
than  be  robbed  of  his  faith  in  the  divinity  of  Christ." 

In  his  memoranda,  William  Savery  thus  speaks  of  the 
dealings  of  the  Almighty  with  him  iu  his  younger  years. 

"  I  may  acknowledge,  that  notwithstanding  my  revolt 
and  turning  aside  from  the  paths  of  purity  and  peace,  the 
Lord  has  been  graciously  near  me  all  my  life  long,  and 
has  watched  over  me  as  a  tender  Father  for  good,  smitten 
me  by  His  Spirit  when  I  have  been  rebelling  against  His 
holy  law  written  in  my  heart,  making  merry  over  the 
iJiviue  witness  there  ;  and  has  reached  to  me  and  tendered 
me  in  the  midst  of  mirth  and  jollity.  He  often  followed 
me  to  my  chamber,  and  upon  ]uy  pillow  has  drawn  tears 
of  sorrow  and  contrition  from  me,  when  none  have  been 
privy  to  it  but  His  all-seeing  eye  :  so  that  my  days  of  joy 
and  laughter  have  often  produced  nights  of  sorrow  and 
weeping.  Still  I  continued  sinning  and  repenting,  and 
turning  the  Grace  of  God  into  wantonness  for  a  number 
of  years,  being  at  times  favored  to  see  in  part  the  beauty 
there  is  in  holiness,  but  fearful  of  incurring  the  scoff  and 
scorn  of  the  world's  deluded  votaries  should  I  turn  my 
back  upon  it." 

In  the  year  1778,  attending  a  meeting  at  Merion,  held 
after  an  interment,  he  was  deeply  impressed  with  serious 
tlujugiitfulness.     Being  married  that  year,  he  settled  in 


WIIJJAJNI    SAVKl.'V. 


<I3 


business  iu  Philadelphia.  The  i^tate  of  his<  luiud  about 
this  time  is  thus  described. 

"  I  had  been  employed  iu  briuging  myself  to  a  more 
circumspect  life,  being  pretty  careful  in  my  conduct  and 
conversation,  and  just  iu  my  dealings  among  men,  and 
was  willing  to  believe  I  had  attained  to  great  matters, 
and  that  I  might  now  take  uj)  my  rest ;  for  by  my  own 
strength,  abilities  and  contrivance,  I  could  not  only  keep 
up  a  fair  upright  character  among  men,  and  make  my 
life  happy  and  myself  respected  ;  but  also  (oh,  the  deceit- 
ful workings  of  Satan  !  oh,  the  mystery  of  iniquity  !)  that 
it  would  at  the  close  of  time  here,  gain  me  an  inheritance 
in  the  regions  of  purity  and  peace,  among  all  those  that 
are  sanctified.  But,  how  can  I  sufficiently  adore  my  great 
and  good  Master,  for  His  continued  regard  and  care  over 
me,  iu  that  He  did  not  suffer  me  to  remain  long  in  this 
state  of  delusion  and  error.  He  disturbed  my  false  rest, 
and  made  me  at  times  exceedingly  uneasy  with  it,  and 
gave  me  at  leugtli  to  see  that  notwithstanding  my  regu- 
larity of  behavior  and  all  my  boasted  attainments,  I  fell 
far  short  of  that  purity,  which  all  the  vessels  in  the  Lord's 
house  must  come  to  ;  that  I  was  yet  under  the  law  which 
cannot  make  the  comers  thereto  perfect,  not  having  passed 
under  the  flaming  sword,  nor  felt  the  day  of  the  Lord  to 
be  come,  which  burns  as  an  oven. 

"  This  brought  great  distress  and  anxiety  of  mind  over 
me,  and  sometimes  I  was  ready  to  doubt  the  truth  of  these 
Divine  revelations  ;  and  was  exceedingly  desirous  to  find 
if  possible,  an  easier  way  to  peace  and  happiness,  than  by 
submitting  myself  to  the  cross,  of  which  I  had  as  yet  ex- 
perienced but  little.  I  was  much  tossed  and  distressed, 
as  one  who  was  in  a  dark  and  howling  wilderness,  where 
I  could  see  no  way  out.  But  at  length  the  Lord,  who 
indeed  watched  over  ma  continually  for  good,  blessed  and 
praised  forever  be  His  name,  brought  me  into  some  degree 


94  NVir.LTAM    SAVKRY. 

of  composure.  My  eyes  became  more  clearly  opened  to 
djscern  where  I  was,  and  that  all  the  righteousness  of  my 
own  putting  on,  was  as  filthy  rags,  of  which  I  must  be 
stripped,  before  I  could  experience  a  putting  on  of  that 
purity  and  righteousness,  which  is  the  fine  linen  of  the 
saints.  In  great  distress  and  anxiety  I  saw  nothing  for 
me  to  lean  upon,  but  to  dwell  alone  and  keep  my  eye 
open  and  my  spiritual  ear  attentive  to  Him  who  is  the 
unchangeable  High  Priest  of  His  people,  and  with  whom 
are  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge,  who  knows 
the  states  of  all  His  children,  and  when  and  where  He 
leads  them,  graciously  affords  ability  to  follow,  to  the 
praise  of  His  ever  adorable  name. 

"  It  pleased  Him  to  lead  me  as  into  the  wilderness,  and 
to  give  me  a  sight  of  my  former  disobedience  and  folly. 
Oh  !  the  bitterness  and  distress  that  covered  me  when  I 
was  alone  or  in  meetings.  I  experienced  but  few  pleas- 
ant draughts  of  His  love,  my  meat  was  gall  and  worm- 
wood, and  my  drink  of  the  bitter  waters  of  Marah.  Thus 
I  continued,  but  was  still  preserved  desirous  to  know  the 
Master's  will,  and  in  measure  made  willing  to  obey,  though 
under  the  cross;  yet  the  way  to  the  kingdom  was  for  some 
months  much  darkened,  and  a  sense  of  my  sinful  conduct 
often  brought  me  almost  to  despair  of  ever  finding  for- 
giveness with  an  offended  God. 

"  Oh !  these  were  times  of  baptism  never  to  be  for- 
gotten in  mutability.  One  evening,  sitting  in  my  house 
alone,  great  horror  and  trouble  seized  me — I  wept  aloud, 
and  after  a  short  time  went  to  bed  ;  l)ut  my  distress  was 
so  great,  that  it  almost  overcarae  me,  and  I  thought  I 
tasted  of  the  misery  of  fallen  spirits.  Not  being  able  to 
contain  myself,  I  arose  and  walked  the  room.  My  spirits 
at  length  being  nearly  exhausted,  I  threw  myself  on  the 
bed  again,  but  had  not  lain  long,  before  I  grew  cold  like 
one  ncnir  death,  a  clainmv  sweat  covered  me,  and  I  was  to 


WILLIAM    SAVKUV.  l'^') 

appearaDce  stupid.  lu  this  state,  I  was,  through  adorable 
mercy,  released  from  the  horror  that  belbre  surrounded 
me,  aud  was  comforted  with  a  sight  aud  feeling  of  a  state 
of  inexpressible  happiness  and  joy  ;  aud  when  so  far  come 
to  myself  as  to  have  utterance  given  me,  I  cried  aloud  on 
this  wise,  Oh!  now  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth. 

"Oh  !  the  sweetness  I  then  felt,  in  being  favored  with 
such  an  evidence  of  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God  :  it  far 
surpassed  everything  I  had  ever  before  experienced.  Tears 
of  joy  ran  freely  down  my  cheeks,  insomuch  that  I  could 
not  restrain  them  nor  scarcely  utter  a  word  for  a  consider- 
able time ;  and  my  dear  partner,  who  shared  with  me  in 
my  affliction,  was  also  made  a  partaker  with  me  in  my 
exceeding  great  joy.  Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  though  He  sees  meet  for  our  refinement  to  try  us 
even  to  an  hair's  breadth,  yet  in  our  utmost  extremity 
His  all-powerful  arm  is  made  bare  for  our  deliverance." 

His  first  appearance  as  a  minister,  was  about  the  year 
1779  ;  and  during  the  remaining  twenty-five  years  of  liis 
life,  he  was  extensively  engaged  in  Gospel  service.  His 
death  occurred  in  1804.  During  his  sickness  he  was  su}>- 
ported  in  resignation  to  the  Divine  will,  and  notwithstand- 
ing his  abundant  labors  in  the  service  of  his  Lord  iind 
Master,  was  led  to  take  a  very  humbling  view  of  himself, 
as  an  unprofitable  servant,  having  nothing  to  depciul  on 
Ijut  the  long-sufiering  and  goodness  of  God — observing, 
"  1  th(»ught  I  was  once  strong  for  the  work,  but  now  I  am 
a  child  ]>n)ught  back  to  my  horn-book,  and  have  nothing 
to  trust  to  but  the  mercy  of  God  through  Christ  my  Sa- 
viour." He  had  been  remarkable  for  his  firm  and  un- 
shaken belief  in  the  divinity  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  in  His  propitiatory  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of 
the  world,  and  in  all  His  glorious  offices  for  the  salvation 
of  mankind,  ])eing  often  fervently  engaged  in  .setting 
forth   these   blessed  rj()S])el  doctrines,  :iiul  eulorcing  them 


9G  MARY    DITDLEY. 

on  his  hearers  ;  and  in  the  solemn  moments  of  disease 
and  death,  his  reverent  dependence  and  hope  in  his  Sa- 
viour did  not  fail  him,  but  proved  as  an  anchor  to  his 
soul.  A  short  time  before  his  death,  under  a  sense  and 
feeling  immediately  imparted,  he  expressed  "glory  to 
God,"  and  continued  in  great  composure  of  mind,  until 
the  19th  day  of  the  Sixth  month,  1804,  when  he  calmly 
resigned  his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  Him  who  gave  it. 


MARY    DUDLEY 


Mary  Didley  was  born  in  theCity  of  Bristol,  England, 
on  the  8th  of  Sixth  month,  1750.  Her  death  occurred  in 
1823.  During  much  of  her  life,  she  was  engaged  as  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel,  in  seeking  to  promote  the  spread 
of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  among  men  ;  and  in  this  ser- 
vice travelled  on  the  Continent  of  Europe,  as  well  as  more 
extensively  in  different  i)arts  of  Great  Britain.  In  some 
memoranda  of  her  Christian  experience,  which  were  ])ub- 
lished  by  her  daughter  Elizabeth,  she  gives  an  instructive 
account  of  the  work  of  Grace  on  her  lieart.  In  these,  she 
says: 

"  I  am  drawn  to  commemorate  the  gracious  dealings  of 
a  merciful  Father  and  Creator  in  early  visiting  my  mind, 
which  though  ignorant  of  the  nature  of  deep  religious  feel- 
ings, was  certainly  often  impressed  with  them  in  the  morn- 
ing of  my  day  ;  though,  from  a  remarkably  lively  disposi- 
tion, I  did  not  yield  to  that  awful  fear,  at  seasons  felt,  which 
preserving  from  the  snares  of  death  would  have  led  into 
a  conformity  to  the  Divine  will.  Being  educated  in  great 
strictness  by  my  parents,  respecting  the  observance  and 
ceremonies  of  the  worship  they  professed,  (that  of  the 
Establishment, )  I  was  a  constant  attendant  upon  them 


MARY    DUDr.EV.  97 

from  cliildhoud,  tliougli  with  tliiss,  allowed  to  eiitci'  into 
most  of  the  amusements  of  the  world,  to  which  njy  uaturiil 
disposition  greatly  inclined.  While  in  the  midst  of  dissi- 
pation I  often  felt  a  dissatisfaction,  and  my  mind  was 
visited  with  something  so  awful  that  I  appeared  to  others 
very  grave,  and  have  frequently  been  laughed  at  for  it. 
I  was  fond  of  reading,  and  found  much  pleasure  in  yield- 
ing to  it ;  which,  with  a  turn  for  poetry,  and  the  intimate 
acquaintance  of  several  sensible,  seriously  inclined  per- 
sons, occupied  nuich  of  my  time  from  seventeen  to  eigh- 
teen years  of  age.  These  circumstances,  together  with  the 
death  of  my  beloved  grandmother,  gave  a  shock  to  that 
vanity,  in  the  gratification  of  which,  she  had  much  con- 
tributed to  sup2)ort  me;  and  a  disappointment  in  an  af- 
fectionate attachment  terminated  the  attraction  to  visible 
objects,  so  that  my  mind  was  like  a  blank,  waiting  to  be 
iilled  up,  and  prepared  for  the  more  extensive  reception 
of  the  ]jreciou8  visitation,  which  early  in  the  twentieth 
year  of  my  life,  was  sweetly  vouchsafed  ;  so  that  all  that 
was  within  me  bowed  in  deep  prostration,  and  yielded  to 
the  superior  power.of  heavenly  love.  My  mind  being  in 
the  prepared  state  above  described,  it  would  be  unsafe  to 
date  this  change  from  the  particular  period  of  my  attend- 
ing the  Methodist  meetings;  though  in  doing  so  I  cer- 
tainly felt  more  of  Divine  impressions  than  at  any  pre- 
vious season  ;  and  particularly  when  under  the  ministry  of 
one  of  their  preachers,  who  seemed  commissioned  with  a 
message  to  my  mind.  I  continued  to  hear  him,  with 
many  others;  attended  all  the  means,  as  they  are  called, 
and  was  often  sweetly  affected  and  comforted  ;  yet  even 
at  such  times  there  was  something  within  me  craving  the 
purity  of  an  inward,  spiritual  life — and  seeing  that  with- 
out holiness  no  man  could  see  the  Lord,  as  I  did  believe 
was  attainable,  how  did  my  whole  soul  breathe  for  this 
knowledge  to   Ix'  revealed,  and   in   the  depth   t»f  silence, 


9s  MARY    DUDLEY. 

struggle,  that  I  might  rightly  seek  and  experience  it.  J 
went  into  various  places  of  worship  among  the  Dissenters, 
but  still  found  a  want,  a  vacuum  unfilled  with  that  good 
I  was  thirsting  after. 

"  Not  from  conviction,  but  partly  from  persuasion,  and 
something  in  me  yielding  to  the  way  I  thought  might 
eadly  settle  me,  I  joined  the  Methodist  Society,  and  also 
continued  constantly  to  attend  the  established  worship, 
that  of  my  education ;  but  in  the  several  ceremonies  of 
this,  and  the  difterent  meetings  of  the  other,  such  as  classes, 
bands,  &c.,  I  felt  unsatisfied  ;  and  often  while  others  were 
engaged  in  attention  to  the  preaching  and  singing,  has 
my  spirit  in  solemn  silence  communed  with  '  The  Lord 
my  strength,'  so  that  I  scarcely  knew  what  was  passing 
around  me,  and  oven  felt  disturbed  from  this  inward 
attraction,  when  obliged  to  draw  to  that  spot  where  the 
outward  elements  were  prepared  for  the  congregation. 
Oh !  how  did  I  then  feel  the  heavenly  mystery,  and 
sweetly  partake  of  the  bread  of  life,  so  that  all  forms  and 
shadows  fled  away,  and  became  no  longer  of  use  or 
efficacy  to  a  mind  feeding  spiritually  on  the  substance. 
During  these  feelings  and  consequent  shakings  from  all 
visible  things,  I  often  went  into  Friends'  meetings,  and 
there,  especially  in  silence,  did  my  spirit  feed  ;  as  it  also 
did,  in  deep  awful  retiredness,  when  no  eye  saw  me ;  but 
when,  by  this  powerful  attraction,  hours  have  passed 
away,  so  that  my  body  seemed  to  do  with  a  very  small 
portion  of  rest  or  sleep,  I  felt  like  a  child  clinging  to 
its  parent's  breast ;  and  in  this  state  covenant  was  made, 
which  to  this  hour,  I  humbly  trust  has  not  been  for- 
gotten." 

Her  daughter  states,  that  her  totally  withdrawing  her- 
self from  those  scenes  of  amusement  in  which  she  had 
dissipated  much  })recious  time,  brought  upon  her  ridicule 
and  censure  from  some  of  her  companions  ;  and  that  the 


MARY   DLDF-EV.  99 

change  which  .■<he  felt  it  her  duty  to  make,  by  leaving  off' 
oruameuts  and  wearing  such  attire  as  was  consistent  with 
her  views  of  Christian  simplicity,  was  very  mortifying  to 
some  of  her  nearest  connexions.  But  she  was  enabled  to 
persevere  in  the  path  of  obedience  ;  and  the  peace  with 
which  her  mind  was  favored  more  than  counterbalanced 
these  trials. 

After  this  she  gradually  withdrew  from  the  Methodist 
Society,  and  became  increasingly  sensible  that  it  was  her 
religious  duty  to  profess  with  Friends,  which  she  was 
strengthened  openly  to  do  in  language  and  demeanor, 
about  the  middle  of  the  year  1773.  The  motives  which 
influenced  her  are  thus  stated  in  her  narrative: 

"  The  active  zeal  of  the  people  I  loved,  and  had  joined, 
now  appeared  to  me  irreconcilable  with  that  self-abase- 
ment, and  utter  inability  to  move  without  holy  help,  which 
I  experienced.  I  had  nothing  but  poverty  and  weakness 
to  tell  of;  and  when  from  the  force  of  example  I  did 
speak,*  my  little  strength  was  rather  diminished  than 
increased.  Indeed,  I  found  little  but  in  quietude  and  in- 
ward attention  ;  and  when  centered  here,  I  had  all  things, 
because  I  possessed  the  good  itself  Thus  was. my  mind 
drawn  from  all  creatures,  without  the  help  of  any,  to  the 
Creator  and  Source  of  light  and  life  who,  to  finish  His 
own  work,  saw  meet  to  deprive  me  of  my  health.  This 
happened  in  the  year  1773,  about  the  time  of  my  dear 
father's  death,  on  whom  I  closely  attended  through  a 
lingering  illness,  wherein  he  said  to  me,  '  O,  Polly  I  I 
had  rather  see  you  as  you  are  than  on  a  throne.'  I  be- 
lieve he  died  in  peace.  My  complaints  threatened  my 
life,  being  consumptive ;  but  I  felt  no  way  anxious  re- 
specting the  termination.  I  was  weaned  from  all  crea- 
tures, but  felt  beyond  all  doubt,  that  if  life  was  prolonged, 

*  Alluding  to  the  practice  of  disclosing  individual  experience 
in  the  "(Ilass  Meetings"  of  the  Methodist  Society. 


100  MAKV    DUiH.EY. 

were  there  no  Quaker  on  earth,  I  luuist  he  one  in  i)rinci- 
ple  and  practice  ;  but  being  determined,  if  the  work  was? 
of  God,  He  himself  should  effect  it,  I  read  not  any  book 
of  their  writing.  Being  utterly  unable  to  go  from  home, 
I  attended  no  place  of  worship,  and  conversed  with  very 
few,  except  my  beloved  and  most  intimate  friend,  Rebecca 
Scudamore,*  and  even  to  her  were  my  lips  sealed  respect- 
ing the  path  pointed  out  to  me  ;  but  after  hesitating  and 
shrinking  many  weeks  from  using  the  plain  language, 
[of  thou  and  thee  to  one  person,]  wherein  the  cross  was 
too  great  to  be  resignedly  borne,  she  told  me  her  fixed 
belief,  that  I  ought  to  use  it,  and  that  my  disobedience 
caused  her  great  suffering,  or  to  that  effect ;  I  then  told 
her,  I-was  convinced  of  its  being  required  ;  but,  that  if 
giving  my  natural  life  would  be  accepted,  I  was  ready  to 
yield  the  sacrifice.  My  health  grew  worse,  and  every  act 
of  transgression  increased  my  bodily  weakness ;  until 
feeling  all  was  at  stake,  in  the  very  anguish  of  my  spirit 
I  yielded ;  and  addressing  my  beloved  and  hitherto  affec- 
tionate mother,  in  the  language  of  conviction,  my  suffer- 
ings grew  extreme  through  her  opposition ;  but  never  may 
my  soul  forget  the  precious  influence  then  extended.  The 
very  climate  I  breathed  in  was  sweet ;  all  was  tranquil  and 
serene,  and  the  evidence  of  heavenly  approbation  beyond 
expression  clear ;  so  that  this  temporary  suffering  from 
mistaken  zeal,  seemed  light,  comparatively ;  and  indeed 
all  was  more  than  compensated  by  future  kindness,  when 
light  shone  about  that  dear  parent's  dwelling.  My  health 
mended,  I  soon  got  to  meetings,  and  though  ignorant  of 
the  way  Friends  had  been  led,  or  some  peculiar  testimo- 
nies they  held,  the  day  of  vision  clearly  unfolded  them 
one  after  another,  so  that  obedience  in  one  matter  loosened 

*She  was  a  member  of  the  Cliurch  of  P^ngland,  and  Iiighly 
esteemed,  as  a  woman  of  distinguished  piety  and  deep  spiritnal 
experience. 


MAUY    DUDLEY.  101 

the  .^eal  to  another  opening,  until  I  found,  as  face  answered 
face  in  a  glass,  so  did  the  experience  of  enlightened  minds 
answer  one  to  the  other. 

"  I  now  kept  constantly  to  the  meetings  of  Friends,  and 
began  to  feel  a  settlement  of  mind  in  real  peace,  which  my 
tossed  state  for  several  years,  had  caused  me  only  tran- 
siently to  i^ossess  ;  or,  at  least,  not  in  the  degree  of  which 
I  now-  partook ;  not  that  all  the  work  seemed  requisite  to 
commence  anew,  for  assuredly  Christ  had  been  raised  in 
my  heart,  though  until  now,  the  government  was  not 
wholly  on  His  shoulders  ;  but  by  this  unreserved  surren- 
der to  His  pure  guidance,  the  mystery  of  godliness  was 
beginning  to  open  in  increasing  light  and  power;  and  that 
sj)irituality  wdiich  had  been  discovered,  was  now  in  a  mea- 
sure possessed.     *     * 

"  In  religious  meetings  I  w  as  for  some  time  frequently 
affected  even  to  trembling,  when  matter  would  present  to 
my  mind,  as  though  I  must  deliver  it.  *  *  For  several 
meeting  days  I  hesitated,  not  from  wilful  disobedience, 
but  awful  fear  to  move  in  so  great  a  W'ork ;  and  felt  con- 
sequent poverty,  though  not  severe  condemnation :  but 
one  day,  about  the  Eleventh  month,  I  think  in  the  year 
1773,  sitting  with  Friends  in  their  meeting-house  in  the 
Friars,  Bristol,  (I  had  once  in  a  little  country  meeting, 
moved  before,  but  never  here,  Avhere  the  cross  was  gi'eat 
indeed,)  my  spirit  bowed  in  awful  revei'ence  before  the 
God  of  my  life,  and  a  few  words  so  settled,  that  I  could 
not  any  way  shake  them  from  me.  I  sat  and  trembled 
exceedingly,  and  desired  to  be  excused ;  till  a  valuable 
Friend  from  America,  Robert  Willis,  then  on  a  religious 
visit  to  that  city,  stood  up  and  spoke  so  encouragingly  to 
my  state,  that  when  he  closed,  I  stood  on  my  feet,  and  the 
words  impressing  my  mind,  seemed  to  run  through  me  as 
a  passive  vessel.  He  almost  immediately  kneeled  down, 
and  supplicated  for  the  preservation  of  the  little  ones.  I 
10 


102  JiLAEY    DUDLEY. 

could  not  staucl  while  he  was  thus  engaged,  being  as  though 
my  whole  frame  was  shaken  through  the  power  of  truth. 
When  meeting  closed,  I  got  as  quickly  as  I  could  out  of 
it,  and  walked  a  back  way  home,  with  such  a  covering  of 
sweet  peace,  that  I  felt  the  evidence  indisputably  clear, 
that  if  I  were  then  called  out  of  time,  an  everlasting  in- 
heritance was  sure :  the  whole  creation  wore  an  aspect  of 
serenity,  and  the  Creator  of  all  things  was  my  friend. 
Oh!  on  my  return  home  and  retiring  to  my  chamber, 
how  sweetly  precious  did  the  language,  addressed  to  the 
holy  pati'iarch  in  an  instance  of  obedience,  feel  to  ray 
spirit,  and  it  was  indeed  sealed  by  Divine  power,  '  Be- 
cause thou  hast  been  faithful  in  this  thing,  in  blessing  I 
will  bless  thee,"  &c. 

Though  she  had  been  thus  greatly  favored,  yet  this 
dear  Friend  afterwards  left  the  path  of  simple  obedience, 
and  by  giving  way  to  reasonings  on  the  subject,  was  led 
to  doubt  her  own  fitness  and  preparation  for  so  great  a 
work  as  that  of  the  ministry.  She  says  :  "  Meeting  after 
meeting  I  refused  to  move  at  the  word  of  holy  command, 
which  hereby  became  less  intelligible,  and  my  understand- 
ing gradually  darkened  through  rebellion,  so  that  I  said 
with  Jonah,  'It  is  better  for  me  to  die  than  to  live.'  ''^  * 
Thus  I  went  on  as  nearly  as  my  recollection  serves,  for 
about  seven  years,  after  my  first  yielding  to  the  reasonings 
before  described ;  and  indeed  just  before  being  brought 
out  of  this  horrible  pit,  I  think  the  extremity  never  was 
so  great,  insomuch  that  I  fainted  in  my  spirit,  and  all  hope 
was  cut  off",  my  language  being,  '  I  shall  die  in  the  pit.'  " 
Whilst  in  this  condition  she  attended  a  Province  meeting, 
at  Cork,  in  Ireland  ;  and  was  there  enabled  to  bow  in  sub- 
mission to  the  Divine  will,  by  declaring  that  which  was 
given  her  for  the  people.  This  act  of  obedience  was  re- 
warded by  a  return  of  that  precious  holy  quiet  of  mind, 
to  which  she  had  long  been  a  stranger  ;  and  by  a  sense 


.MARY    DUDLEY. 


108 


of  freecloiii  from  coudemnatioii,  in  which  her  soul  could 
rejoice. 

In  her  old  age,  after  having  had  long  acquaintance  with 
the  dealings  of  the  Lord,  she  thus  records  her  sense  of  the 
ground  of  salvation  as  revealed  to  her  in  the  light  of  her 
own  experience : 

"If  I  could  sound  through  the  whole  earth  what  is  my 
heartfelt  belief,  it  would  be  in  unison  with  the  apostolic 
declaration,  '  Not  by  w^orks  of  righteousness  which  we 
have  done,  but  according  to  His  mercy  He  saved  us,  by 
the  w'ashing  of  regeneration  and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Ghost." 

"  Mercy,  mercy,  is  the  sum  and  substance  of  my  hope : 
the  unmerited  mercy  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins,  and  pei-fecting  the  work  of  preparation 
for  admittance  into  eternal  settlement. 

"  It  is  now  between  forty  and  fifty  years  since  this  ever- 
to-be-extolled  mercy  called  me  from  darkness  into  light, 
in  a  spiritual  sense,  and  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  open  the 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel  with  clearness  to  ray  view.  I  trust 
I  am  safe  in  saying,  that  since  that  time  I  have  not  dared 
to  call  in  question  the  ways  of  His  working,  nor  to  doubt 
the  appointed  means  of  salvation,  as  revealed  when  my 
awakened  soul  in  deep  prostration  understood  the  lan- 
guage, and  uttered  it,  'A  Saviour  or  I  die,  a  Redeemer 
or  I  perish.' 

"  Here  conviction  and  i-epentance  were  known  to  be 
produced  by  the  efficacious  working  of  the  promised  gift, 
and  nothing  was  left  to  depend  upon,  but  the  jjurchased 
redemption  through  the  great  Sacrifice  without,  and  the 
sanctifying  influence  within. 

"  What  God  hath  thus  joined  together,  none  can,  without 
derogating  from  His  power  and  wisdom,  put  asunder.  I 
wish  to  leave  the  expression  of  my  unshaken  faith  in  the 
stupendous  plan  of  Divine  lovt;,  as  manifested  in  the  in- 


104  SIAUY    DUDLEY. 

caruatiou,  suffeviugs,  crucifixion  Jiud  resurrection  of  the 
ever  blessed  Kedeemer  ;  His  all-sufficient  atonement  for 
the  guilt  of  sin,  and  continued  intercession  for  poor,  fallen 
man  ;  until  in  the  gradual  process  of  regeneration,  the 
dominion  over  all  evil  is  happily  effected,  and  the  great 
design  in  man's  formation  mercifully  accomplished,  by 
his  experience  of  full  redemption,  through  the  operation 
of  the  pure  and  purifying  Spirit  of  Christ." 

The  last  few  mouths  of  her  life  were  spent  in  much 
weakness  of  body,  but  her  spirit  was  strengthened  by  faith 
in  that  Divine  mercy,  which,  she  said,  "visited  me  in  the 
morning  of  the  day,  has  supported  me  through  life,  and 
will  support  me  in  death  ;  unmerited,  unbounded,  and  I 
trust,  unchangeable  mercy !"  The  following  are  a  few  of 
her  expressions.  "  Wonderfully  was  preserving  grace  af- 
forded in  the  morning  of  ray  day,  guarding  from  evil 
and  keeping  from  many  snares.  It  may  well  be  said  '  I 
guided  thee  when  thou  didst  not  know  me  ;'  and  since  my 
heart  has  been  surrendered  to  Divine  government  and 
guidance,  the  promise  has  been  graciously  verified,  '  I 
will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee.'  " 

"  I  have  never  doubted  the  universality,  the  freeuess 
and  fulness  of  Divine  grace  ;  and  my  faith  is  now  un- 
shaken. Oh  !  never  limit  this  grace  ;  proclaim  it  as  that 
whereby  all  may  be  saved.  I  go  trembling  and  depend- 
ent, hoping  that  my  sins  will  be  forgiven  for  the  sake  of 
Him  who  loved  us  and  gave  Himself  for  us.  I  have  no- 
thing of  my  own,  not  a  rag,  (if  I  may  use  the  expression 
of  another  Friend,)  to  clothe  me  with." 

"Grace  has  triumphed  over  nature's  feelings.  The 
Lord  has  fulfilled  His  promise.  He  has  given  the  vic- 
tory through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be  glory  and  power, 
dominion,  salvation  and  strength  now  and  forever  ;  holy ! 
holy!  holy!" 

She  quietly  and  peacefully  ended  her  earthly  career  on 
the  24th  of  Ninth  month,  1828. 


DANIEI.    WHKKLPU;.  105 


DANIEL    WHEELER. 

There  are  many  persons  now  living  in  this  country, 
who  ai'e  familiar  with  the  published  accouut  of  the  reli- 
gious visit  paid  to  the  Islands  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  by  the 
late  Da>'Iel  Wheeler  ;  and  who  personally  remember 
his  visit  to  the  meetings  of  Friends  in  this  laud.  In  the 
sixty-first  year  of  his  age,  he  commenced,  from  a  sense  of 
duty,  a  narrative  of  the  gracious  dealings  of  the  Almighty 
with  him ;  from  which,  and  his  letters  and  other  memo- 
randa, the  following  brief  narrative  has  been  compiled. 

He  was  born  in  London,  in  1771.  His  parents  were 
members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  strict  adherents 
to  its  rites  and  ceremonies.  They  endeavored  to  imbue 
the  minds  of  their  children  at  an  early  age  with  the  fear 
of  their  great  Creator, — taking  them  regularly  to  attend 
the  performance  of  public  worship,  and  also  reading  the 
Holy  Scriptures  in  the  family  at  home.  But  being  both 
removed,  while  Daniel  was  still  at  the  youthful  age  of 
twelve  years,  he  was  exposed  to  many  temptations,  to 
which  he  unhappily  yielded.  In  reference  to  this  period, 
he  remarks : 

"  At  this  distance  of  time  I  can  painfully  trace  the 
springings  up  of  the  evil  root,  which  failed  not  at  an  early 
age  to  bring  forth  fruit  of  those  things,  '  whereof  I  am 
now  ashamed  ;'  having  sorrowfully  found  from  woeful  ex- 
perience that  their  '  end  is  death.'  *  *  Though  now 
in  full  abhorrence  of  the  same,  through  the  mercy  of  God 
in  Christ  Jesus,  I  have  a  hope  that  my  sins,  though  many, 
will  be  forgiven,  and  forever  blotted  out  as  a  thick  cloud  ; 
and  that  my  tribulated  soul  will  yet  be  cleansed  by  the 
precious  'blood  of  sprinkling,  that  speaketh  better  things 
than  that  of  Abel.'  This  only  '  cried  from  the  ground' 
for  vengeance  against  the  olfiiuder;  whilst  the  blood  of 
10* 


10(!  DANIEL    WIIEIET/EI!. 

Him  who  cried — '  Father,  forgive   them,  for  they  know 
uot  what  they  do,'  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  and  was  shed 
for  many,  for  the  remission  of  sins — yea,  for  all  that  re- 
pent, believe,  and  obey  the  gospel  in  the  secret  of  their 
hearts  revealed,  which  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation." 
After  some  changes,  he  was  appointed  a  midshipman 
on  board  a  man  of  war.     This,  he  says,  was  an  introduc- 
tion to  a  school,  which  is  not  often  equalled,  and  but  sel- 
dom surpassed,   for    vice  and   immorality.      Whilst   on 
ship-board,  and  when  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  having 
been  indisposed,  and  probably  led  to  reflect  a  little  on 
that  account,  he  says  ;  "  I  was  made  sensible  of  a  Divine 
visitation  being  extended  to  me  ;  disclosing  with  indubi- 
table clearness  the  vanity  and  emptiness  of  every  earthly 
station,  tarnishing  the  pride  and  glory  of  this  perishing 
world  in  my  sight;  and  which,  though  little  understood, 
and  less  regarded  at  the  moment,  has  since,  at  different 
periods  of  my  chequered  life,  been  brought  to  my  remem- 
brance by  Him,  '  who  declareth  unto  man  his  thoughts, 
— who  maketh  the  morning  dai-kuess,  and  treadeth  upon 
the  high  places  of  the  earth, — the  Lord,  the  Lord  of  hosts 
is  His  name.'     When  this  occurred,  although  then  entered 
into  the  bond  of  iniquity,  I  had  not  launched  so  fully  into 
its  dreadful  abyss,  as  was  afterwards  most  lamentably  the 
case  ;  and  from  what  I  have  since  witnessed  in  unutterable 
mercy,  of  the  strength  and  power  of  redeeming  love,  a 
belief  is  induced,  that  if  this  warning  voice,  then  sound- 
ing in  the  secret  of  my  sinful  heart — '  Behold,  I  stand  at 
the  door  and  knock,'  had  been  hearkened  unto  and  Avaited 
upon,  my  footstei3s,  even  mine,  would  have  been  conducted 
from  the  horrible  pit  to  which  they  were  fast  verging. 

Of  the  time  spent  in  the  navy — about  six  years — he 
remarks,  "  Notwithstanding  the  many  and  great  dangers 
I  was  exposed  to,  and  the  hardships  and  sufferings  I  had 
to  endure,  throuah  all  which  I  was  preserved  and  sus- 


DANIEL    WHEKLKli.  107 

tained  in  a  manner  at  this  day  inconceivable  to  myself; 
yet  none  of  these  things  were  sufficient  to  soften  the  rocky 
heart,  or  bring  me  to  a  sense  of  my  lost  condition. 

"  Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  time  of  my  being  in 
the  navy,  it  was  suggested  to  my  lost  and  bewildered 
mind,  by  the  subtle  destroyer  of  men,  that  nothing  short 
of  making  away  with  myself,  could  extricate  me  from  the 
difficulties  by  which  I  was  surrounded,  and  shelter  me 
from  shame  and  disgrace ;  and  the  method  of  its  accom- 
plishinent  was  at  seasons  hinted  at.  But,— blessed  be  the 
name  of  the  Lord  God  of  heaven  and  earth  forever !  His 
invisible  arm  of  merciful  interposition  preserved  me  from 
this  dreadful  snare ;  and  in  the  greatness  of  His  love 
and  strength  He  hath  at  this  distant  period  put  it  into 
the  heart  of  His  unworthy  creature  to  record  His  mighty 
acts,  to  His  prafse  and  to  His  glory,  with  humble  and 
reverent  thankfulness.  Greatly  do  I  desire,  that  if  this 
relation  should  ever  fall  into  the  hands  of  any  poor  sin- 
ners and  servants  of  the  cruel  taskmaster,  as  was  then  my 
lot, — that  such  maybe  hereby  strengthened  and  encourag- 
ed to  look  unto  the  Lord  their  God  for  help,  even  though 
they  may  be  plunged  into  the  very  gulf  of  despair :  for 
'  His  compassions  fail  not,' — they  are  new  every  morning  ; 
His  tender  mercies  ai-e  over  all  His  works  ;  and  He  will 
give  power  to  the  faint,  and  strengtii  to  them  that  have 
no  might  of  their  own,  to  resist  this  and  every  other 
temptation  of  that  wicked  one,  wdio  was  a  liar  from  the 
beginning." 

After  leaving  the  navy,  Daniel  Wheeler  enlisted  as  a 
private  soldier  in  the  army.  Having  been  sent  into  Ire- 
land, which  was  then  in  a  very  unsettled  state,  he  was 
detailed  for  some  special  service  in  the  interior.  Here, 
he  says,  "  I  was  suddenly  attacked  by  a  poor  infui-iated 
creature,  in  a  state  little  short  of  perfect  madness  from 
continued  intoxication,  supported  by  several  others.  i)ut 


108  DANIEL  wheeli<:r. 

in  a  less  outrageous  couditiou.  I  kept  him  at  bay  for 
some  time,  but  at  last  he  got  so  near,  that  it  became  every 
momeut  more  difficult  to  avoid  beiug  reached  by  the 
violent  strokes  he  made  with  some  kind  of  weapon,  I 
think  of  iron,  which  were  repeatedly  received  by  the  fire- 
lock in  my  hands,  then  loaded  with  ball.  In  this  situa- 
tion, there  seemed  left  me  no  other  than  the  dreadful 
alternative  of  shooting  him  to  save  myself.  I  called  in 
vain  in  the  language  of  appeal  to  the  other  people  to  in- 
terfere ;  they  stood  by,  as  if  to  see  how  matters  were  likely 
to  terminate,  before  they  began  to  act  or  take  a  part  of 
any  consequence  either  way ;  which  they  nearly  carried 
too  far  ;  but  when  they  saw  me  actually  preparing  to  shoot 
the  man,  they  hastily  cried  out,—"  spare  life,  spare  life!' 
which  I  only  wanted  their  help  to  enable  me  to  accom- 
plish. They  then  seized  him,  and  in  tlie  midst  of  the 
struggle  and  confusion  which  took  place  amongst  them- 
selves, my  escape  was  happily  effected.  '■'  *  I  have 
frequently  thought  of  this  circumstance  since  it  occurred, 
I  hope  with  humble  thankfulness  to  the  great  Preserver 
of  men ;  and  now  on  couimittiug  it  to  record,  as  one  of 
those  many  events,  in  which  there  was  but  one  step  be- 
tween me  and  the  grave,  and  whilst  shuddering  at  the 
strong  reeollectiou  of  it,  my  soul  magnifies  that  unmerited 
and  amazing  mercy,  afresh  displayed  and  multiplied  to 
my  understanding  in  a  two-fold  view:  -on  the  one  hand 
in  withholding  me  from  the  crime  of  taking  away  the  life 
of  a  fellow-creature,  like  myself, '  in  the  gall  of  bitterness  ;' 
and,  if  I  had  escaped  myself,  thus  sparing  me,  at  this  late 
hour,  amidst  the  decay  of  nature,  when  the  shadows  of 
the  evening  are  stretching  out,  and  my  feet  drawing  near 
the  margin  of  the  grave, — the  apj^alling  thought  of  a  bro- 
ther's blood,  yet  unwiped  away ;  on  the  other  hand,  in 
rescuing  from  immediate  death  two  miserable  sinners, 
wholly  unprepared  to  die ;  for  had  I  taken  away  the  man's 


DANIKT.    WHEKI.Ei;.  10!) 

life,  my  owu  Avuuld  doubtless  have  beeu  forthwith  sacri- 
ficed to  the  revenge  of  his  euraged  companions.  Thus, 
as  my  history  rolls  on,  the  enormous  load  of  debt  which 
I  already  owe  unto  my  Lord  still  accumulates  ;  and  verily 
it  can  never  be  liquidated,  but  in  that  infinite  and  won- 
drous mercy,  which  delighteth  to  forgive  every  repenting 
sinnei',  who  in  the  depths  of  humility  and  abaseduess  of 
self,  has  indeed  '  nothing  to  pay'  withal." 

The  division  of  the  army  to  which   Daniel  AVheeler 
was  attached,  was  soon  after  sent  to  Holland,  to  reinforce 
the  British  troops  on  the  continent,  in  the  war  then  waging 
with  the  French.     i\.s  they  were  inadec^uately  provided 
with  food  and  protection,  and  subjected  to  many  hard- 
ships, and  exposed  to  a  very  unhealthy  climate,  while 
endeavoring  to  avoid  the  superior  force  of  the  French 
army;  a  large  portion  of  this  detachment  perished.     Of 
his  own  preservation  he  thus  speaks :  "  Notwithstanding 
the  constant  exposure  to  every  shower  of  rain  that  fell, 
without  covering  over  my  head,  and  with  no  couch  but 
the  earth,  and   that  at  times  soaked  with   wet ;   whilst 
harassed  with  fatiguing  marches  night  after  night,  and 
with  little  rest  by  day ;  amidst  hunger  and  thirst,  being 
often  short  of  tbod  for  days  together,  and  occasionally  no 
water  to  be  had,  without  digging  a  well  to  procure  it,  to 
avoid  the  unwholesome  waters  of  the  stagnant  pools;  and 
although  for  several  weeks  together  my  clothes  were  nevei- 
taken  ofl^,  but  to  renew  a  shirt,  and  my  shoes  but  seldom 
off  my  weary  feet;  yet  through  all,  ray  health  was  not 
materially  afi'ected,  till  near  the  approach  of  winter.    But 
in  the  above  description  not  one-half  has  beeu  told  of  that 
marvellous  mercy  which  was  still  extended  for  my  pre- 
servation, when  many  fell  by  the  sword,  or  were  taken 
captives  by  the  enemy, — when  tliousands  were  swept  off 
by   pestilence, — and    whilst   unhurt    myself,    I    saw    the 
wounds  of  others  bleed.     Once  whilst  aiouo.  to  Ilolvoet- 


IlO  DANIEL  whep:leu. 

sluy.s  iu  search  of  some  baggage,  I  entirely  missed  a  con- 
test in  which  our  regiment  was  deprived  of  twenty-eight 
men;  and,  when  at  last  overwhelmed  with  sickness  and 
distress,  the  same  Divine  and  compassionate  arm  of  ever- 
lasting love  and  strength,  was  still  underneath  to  bear 
up  my  helpless  head,  and  in  His  own  tim^,  to  rescue  me 
from  the  very  jaws  of  death,  to  celebrate  His  praise,  and 
to  declare  in  humble  thankfulness  and  gratitude  of  soul, 
"  His  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men." 

The  continued  exposure  to  the  cold  rains  which  fell 
almost  daily,  together  with  other  causes  of  disease,  at 
length  produced  its  efl'ect  on  Daniel  Wheeler.  He  was 
seized  with  the  prevailing  disorder,  a  fever  of  the  typhus 
kind,  of  which  numbers  died  daily.  He  was  very  ill,  and 
as  not  more  than  one  in  fifty  of  those  attacked  recovered, 
there  seemed  little  pr(^balMlity  of  his  restoration  to  health. 
Of  his  mental  condition  at  the  time,  he  makes  these  re- 
marks :  ■'  I  am  not  aware  that  I  had  even  a  wish  to  live  ; 
but  my  mind  was  so  reconciled  to  the  prospect  of  death, 
which  then  seemed  near  and  inevitable,  that  I  had  given 
my  watch  into  the  hands  of  a  person,  with  the  request, 
that  he  would  inform  my  family  where  I  had  ended  my 
days.  Indeed,  when  some  expectation  of  recovery  was  at 
last  held  out,  I  could  not  help  looking  forward  with  a 
feeling  of  regret,  to  the  probability  of  having  again  to 
encounter  the  series  of  hardships  and  distress,  to  which  I 
should  unavoidably  be  subjected. 

"  In  looking  back  at  the  marvellous  manner  in  which 
I  was  sustained  through  all  this  conflict,  and  again  re- 
stored as  one  brought  back  from  the  dead,  I  cannot  avoid 
adverting  to  that  period  of  my  illness,  when  my  mind  felt 
so  reconciled  to  the  prospect  of  death,  as  before-mentioned ; 
and  I  now  fully  believe,  from  what  I  have  since  been 
mercifully  favored  to  experience,  that  so  far  from  being 
in  any  degree  prepared  for  such  an  awful  event,  a  decep- 


•      DANIEL    WHEELEC.  Ill 

tive  feeling  must  have  been  superinduced  by  the  .state  of 
torpor  and  insensibility  in  which  I  then  was,  and  which 
totally  benumbed  any  better  feelings  and  desires  as  to  the 
future.  To  this  may  be  added  a  predominating  fear,  of 
having  to  endure  more  of  those  sufferings,  of  which  I  had 
had  no  small  share ;  which,  the  probability  of  beiug  again 
restored  to  health  seemed  to  banish  every  hope  of  escap- 
ing. Truly  awful  is  the  thought  which  this  view  of  my 
then  lost  condition  occasions,  Avhen  I  contemplate  the  woe 
and  misery  which  must  have  been  my  eternal  portion, 
if  unutterable  mercy  and  long-suffering  had  been  with- 
drawn ;  and  if  the  soul  had  been  required  of  one,  who  had 
Avitnessed  no  repentance  towards  God  the  Judge  of  all, 
except  what  at  times  the  fear  of  punishment  had  extorted ; 
and  who  was  a  stranger  to  that  saving  faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  as  the  '  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the 
sin  of  the  world,' — without  which  His  precious  blood 
would  have  been  shed  in  vain  for  me:  I  should  thus  have 
died  in  my  sins,  which,  unrepented  of,  would  have  fol- 
lowed after  to  judgment,  in  terrible  ai-ray  against  my 
guilty  soul — and  yet  when  my  end  was  apparently  so  near 
and  inevitable,  if  such  questions  as  are  frequently  pro- 
posed on  the  like  occasions  had  been  put  to  me,  I  have 
little  doubt,  but  satisfactory  answers  would  have  been 
returned,  as  to  my  belief  and  hope  in  the  essential  truths 
of  the  gospel.  But  alas  !  this  would  have  been  from  hear- 
say and  traditional  report,  and  not  from  any  heartfelt 
saving  knowledge  of  my  own  :  for  it  is  now  plain  to  my 
understanding,  that  no  man  can  have  saving  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ,  who  is  unacquainted  with,  and  does  not 
walk  in,  the  light  of  that  Divine  Spirit,  which  is  so  justly 
styled  the  Spirit  of  faith.  It  is  through  this  alone,  that 
the  death  and  sufferings  of  Christ,  and  His  whole  sacri- 
fice for  sin  are  availing,  and  truly  applied  to  all  those, 
who  through  faith  lay  hold  of  Him,  the  true  Light  and 


112  DANIEL    WHEELER,      • 

Saviour  of  them  that  believe  iu  His  inward  and  spiritual 
appearance.  These  can  say  to  others  from  sensible  and 
blessed  experience,  '  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketli 
away  the  sin  of  the  world  :'  they  have  received  the  atone- 
ment by  Him,  and  they  reap  the  glorious  fruit  and  benefit 
of  His  death  and  suffering  from  sin,  by  the  sacrifice  of 
Himself,  and  of  His  resurrection  and  ascension ;  iu  that 
He  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  those,  who  are 
thus  willing  to  come  unto  God  by  Hira.  A  man  may 
yield  assent  to  all  the  great  and  solemn  truths  of  Chris- 
tianity ;  the  miraculous  birth,  holy  life,  cruel  sufferings, 
ignominious  death,  and  glorious  resurrection  and  ascen- 
sion of  our  blessed  Redeemer  ;  he  may  believe  in  the  ab- 
stract in  His  inward  and  spiritual  appearance  in  the 
hearts  of  mankind  by  His  Holy  Spirit ;  and  yet  he  may 
fall  short  of  the  prize  immortal,  unless  he  comes  to  wit- 
ness the  saving  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  his  own 
heart,  and  to  know  thereby,  through  faith  in  it,  a  purify- 
ing preparation  for  the  kingdom  of  righteousness,  peace 
and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost." 

In  the  autumn  of  1795,  D.  Wheeler  obtained  a  com- 
mission in  a  regiment  destined  for  the  West  Indies,  and 
sailed  with  the  expedition  appointed  to  this  service,  under 
Sir  Ralph  Abercrombie.  After  a  most  stormy  and  dis- 
astrous jiassage,  they  were  once  in  sight  of  the  islands,  but 
were  driven  back  by  a  dreadful  hurricane ;  in  which  seve- 
ral of  the  vessels  foundered,  and  great  numbers  of  the 
troops  perished.  A  malignant  fever  also  raged  with  fatal 
violence  among  the  crews  of  the  fleet,  and  in  the  ship  in 
which  he  had  embarked,  no  less  than  twenty-seven  fell 
victims  to  it,  within  a  short  space  of  time. 

In  connection  with  this  period,  he  once  remarked  to  a 
friend,  on  being  questioned  as  to  the  means  made  use  of 
in  the  Divine  hand  for  effecting  a  new  birth  unto  right- 
eousness in  his  heart,  that  he  could  not  remember  any 


DAXIET.    AVPrEELEi;.  113 

outward  raeaur?  having  beeu  employed,  uiik'i^.s  indeed,  he 
might  except  a  storm  at  sea,  during  which  his  mind  was 
deeply  affected ;  and  when,  under  a  feeling  of  his  own 
lost  condition  by  nature,  he  was  mercifully  enabled  also 
to  see  the  remedy,  and  the  entire  spirituality  of  the  gospel 
dispensation.      In  accordance  with   this  feeling,  he   re- 
marked, "  I  was  at  this  time  convinced  of  Friends'  princi- 
ples, they  being  neither  more  nor  less  in  my  estimation, 
than  pure  Christianity.     I  remember  when  the  Friends 
visited  me  on  my  application  for  membership,  I  told  them, 
'  I  was  convinced  at  sea ;'  for  I  verily  believed  in  looking 
back  that  this  had  beeu  the  case :  no  human  means  were 
made  use  of;  it  was  altogether  the  immediate  work  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  upou  my  heart."     Under  these  feelings,  he 
became  dissatisfied  with  the  military  profession,  and  re- 
solved  that,  if  permitted  again  to  reach    the  shore,  he 
would  endeavor  to  lead  a  life  of  more  circumspection,  and 
which  should  tend  to  the  glory  of  that  Being,  who  had 
thus  so  mercifully  visited  him  by  His  free  grace.    To  this 
resolutiou  he  adhered  :  he  quitted  the  army  in  the  early 
part  of  the  year  1796. 

Subsequently  to  this  he  became  an  inmate  of  his  sister's 
family,  who  had  joined  the  Society  of  Friends.  His  mind 
became  rcnewedly  impressed  with  the  importance  of 
Divine  Truth,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  months,  he  was 
led  openly  to  espouse  those  doctrines,  of  which,  in  after 
years,  he  was  so  unflinching  an  advocate.  The  little  meet- 
ing which  he  attended  in  the  early  part  of  his  religious 
course,  that  of  Handsworth-Woodhouse,  was  usually  held 
in  silence  ;  and  he  has  often  beeu  known  to  refer  to  so)ue 
of  those  solemn  seasons,  as  times  of  peculiar  instruction 
to  his  mind  ;  in  which  the  power  of  the  Lord  was  sensibly 
felt,  and  His  truth  revealed. 

As  he  waited  patiently  upou  the  Lord  for  iustructiou, 
he  was  made  sensible,  that  the  only  patli   in  wliich  he 
11 


11-i  DANIEL    WHEELER. 

could  walk  with  safety,  was  that  of  self-denial.  Much 
mental  conflict  was  at  this  season  his  portion  ;  but  peace 
was  only  to  be  obtained  by  an  entire  surrender  of  the 
will ;  and  iu  conformity  with  what  he  believed  recpiired  of 
him,  he  adopted  the  plain  dress.  He  once  recounted  to  a 
friend  in  lively  terras,  the  trial  it  was  to  him  to  put  on  a 
different  hat  to  that*  which  he  had  been  accustomed  to 
wear  ;  especially  as  iu  going  to  the  meeting  at  Wood- 
house,  he  generally  met  a  number,  of  his  former  gay  ac- 
quaintances, whom  he  crossed  on  the  Avay  to  their  place 
of  worship,  which  he  had  himself  previously  been  in  the 
practice  of  attending.  In  this  instance  it  was  hard  to  ap- 
pear openly  as  a  fool  before  men ;  he  thought  if  his  natural 
life  might  have  been  accepted  as  a  substitute,  he  would 
gladly  have  laid  it  down:  but  this  was  not  the  thing  re- 
quired. He  diligently  examined  his  heart,  and  believed 
he  saw  clearly  his  Master's  will  in  the  requisition ;  and 
that  it  was  a  discipline  designed  to  bring  him  into  a  state 
of  childlike  obedience  and  dependence.  In  great  distress 
he  cried  unto  the  Lord  for  help  ;  and  a  passage  of  Scrip- 
ture was  powerfully  applied  to  his  mind,  "  Whosoever 
shall  confess  me  before  meu,  him  will  I  confess  also  before 
my  Father  which  is  in  heaven."  His  resolution  was  im- 
mediately taken  :  he  put  on  the  hat,  and  with  his  mind 
staid  on  the  Lord,  set  out  to  join  his  friends  at  meeting. 
In  the  course  of  the  year  1797  he  was  received  into 
membership  with  the  Society  of  Friends  ;  and  entered 
into  business  at  Sheffield,  in  the  seed  trade-  It  was  his 
uniform  practice  from  his  first  commencement  in  trade, 
to  close  his  shop  during  the  hours  of  religious  meeting  on 
week  days  ;  and  though  this  must  have  required  a  strong- 
exercise  of  faith,  at  a  time  when  his  future  support  seemed 
to  depend  on  his  assiduity  and  exertion,  he  was  never 
satisfied  to  neglect  the  worship  of  Almi^ity  God,  from 
the  prospect  of  any  outward  advaiitage;  and  he  has  often 


7)A\li:i,    WIIKEI.ER.  115 

expressed  his  belief,  that  a  blessing  had  rested  on  tliis 
sacrifice  of  apparent  interest\to  duty. 

It  would  have  been  interesting  to  have  had  from  Daniel 
Wheeler's  own  pen,  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  opera- 
tions of  Grace  on  his  mind  at  that  important  period  of 
life,  when  his  feet  were  tui-ned  from  the  broad  way  in 
which  he  had  been  running  towards  ruin,  and  into  that 
narrow  path  which  leads  to  everlasting  rest  and  peace. 
But  his  letters  and  journal  contain  numerous  passages 
which  show,  that  his  views  of  the  nature  of  that  momen- 
tous change,  and  of  the  manner  in  which  it  is  effected,  are 
in  full  accordance  with  those  of  the  worthies  whose  ex- 
perience ha.s  been  given  in  the  earlier  pages  of  this  work. 
In  a  letter  written  from  Russia,  whither  he  had  gone,  from 
a  sense  of  duty,  to  superintend  the  drainage  and  cultiva- 
tion of  some  large  tracts  of  swampy  lands,  and  dated  in 
the  year  1829,  he  says  : 

"An  individual  thoroughly  convinced  of  our  principles, 
and  keeping  close  to  that  which  has  convinced  him,  will 
undoubtedly,  as  he  continues  faithful,  be  converted  by 
it.  *  ''■'  ''''  Such  as  these  have  bought  the  Truth,  at 
the  price  of  becoming  fools  before  men  for  Christ's  sake  : 
they  have  believed  in  the  sufficiency  of  His  power  re- 
vealed in  the  heart,  to  cleanse  and  purity  them  from  all 
sin  ;  and  although  they  may  have  had  to  pass  through 
many  conflicts,  occasionally  for  several  years,  without 
appearing  to  gain  any  ground,  they  have  been  strength- 
ened to  persevere  and  still  to  wait  for  Him.  The  weight 
of  former  sins  and  transgressions  has  been  long  and  pain- 
fully felt  to  rise  in  humiliating  retrospect  befoi'e  the  view 
of  the  mind,  time  after  time,  in  terrible  array  ;  working 
for  each,  true  sorrow  and  repentance  never  to  be  repented 
of.  But  although  at  seasons  he  is  ready  to  faint,  when 
faith  and  hope  have  been  reduced  to  a  low  ebb,  yet  the 
invisible  Arm  of  strength  is  still  undci'iiealh,  unseen  and 


11  (j  DANIEL    \\  HEELPMI. 

unfelt,  supporting  the  tribulated  traveller  in  the  appar- 
ently unequal  warfare;  until  every  sin  has  passed  before- 
hand to  judgment ;  and  at  last,  the  glorious  day  begins  to 
dawn,  when  He,  who  has  been  '  as  a  refiner's  fire,  and 
like  fuller's  soap,'  before  whom  nothing  of  a  transgressing 
nature  can  stand  '  when  He  appeareth,'  or  can  abide 
'  the  day  of  His  coming,'  is  now  discovered  to  be  '  the 
sun  of  righteousness,'  arisen  'with  healing  in  His  wings,' 
to  the  joy  and  comfort  of  the  wounded  soul.  Then  the 
love  of  God  is  truly  known  ;  and  until  this  blessed  day  is 
felt  in  the  great  and  heartfelt  work  of  regeneration,  none 
can  experimentally  and  truly  say,  that  '  God  is  love :'  they 
are  mere  words  to  all  who  have  not  witnessed  the  inward 
workings  of  His  power  in  their  heart :  but  now  they  feel 
Him  to  be  a  God  of  love  and  mercy  too,  and  are  renewedly 
made  willing  in  the  love  of  Him  to  wait  for  Him." 

When  engaged  in  a  religious  visit  to  the  isles  of  the 
Pacific  ocean,  he  addressed  a  congregation  among  the 
Tahitians  ;  and  after  expressing  the  desire,  that  they 
might  every  one  be  numbered  among  the  ransomed  and 
redeemed  of  the  Lord';  who  shall  return  and  come  to 
Zion  with  songs  and  everlasting  joy  upon  their  heads ; 
he  adds  :  "  I  had  to  tell  them,  that  a  great  and  individual 
work  must  be  accomplished  before  these  gracious  and  pro- 
phetic promises  are  realized.  The  indignation  of  the  Lord 
must  be  patiently  borne  for  sin  and  for  transgression ; 
until  He  should  arise  and  plead  their  cause,  and  execute 
judgment  for  them,  and  in  his  own  time  say,  it  is  enough  ; 
and  bring  them  forth  to  the  light,  even  the  light  of  Christ 
Jesus,  in  whom  they  will  then  behold  the  Lamb  of  God 
that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world." 

If  any  of  the  readers  of  these  extracts  should  desire  to 
find  an  easier  way  to  the  kingdom  of  Heaven,  and  shrink 
from  submission  to  the  crucifying  power  of  the  cross  of 


DA.MKI.    W  IIKKI.KR.  117 

Christ,  let  them  consider  the  caution  coutaiued  iu  the  fol- 
lowing passage,  iu  another  of  Daniel  Wheeler's  letters  : 

"  There  are  persons,  who  have  actually  commenced  a  re- 
form in  great  sincerity,  and  have  been  drawn  into  solid 
and  serious  reflection,  but  these,  unhappily,  frequently  fall 
into  the  way  of  a  class  of  people,  whose  writings  and  con- 
versation lead  them  to  expect,  that  when  they  embrace 
the  religion  of  Jesus,  they  will  immediately  witness  some 
delightful  sensations  of  heavenly  joy.  But  alas  !  they 
calculate  on  the  reward  before  the  warfare  is  begun.  If 
such,  for  a  short  season  persist  in  communing  with  their 
own  hearts ;  and  are,  through  condescending  love  and 
mercy,  favored  to  draw  near  to  the  Saviour  of  men  ;  their 
expectation  is  disappointed,  and  they  find  that  '  He  is  with- 
out form  or  comeliness,'  and  hath  no  '  beauty'  to  make 
Him  desirable.  There  is  nothing  to  feed  and  support 
those  airy  and  fantastic  notions,  which  their  minds  have 
previously  and  so  perniciously  imbibed.  Thus  the  ines- 
timable pearl  is  overlooked,  or  set  at  nought ;  the  lan- 
guage of  the  prophet  is  verified,  and  the  blessed  Master 
is,  I  fear,  at  this  day,  by  too  mnny.  in  this  way  'despised 
and  rejected  of  men.'" 

The  same  doctrine  that  Daniel  Wheeler  preached  to  the 
Tahitians,  as  already  mentioned,  he  was  frequently  con- 
strained in  the  flowings  of  Gospel  love,  to  proclaim  to 
others.  Thus,  in  his  account  of  a  meeting  in  the  Sand- 
wich islands,  he  says,  "  I  was  largely  opened  to  declare 
the  everlasting  truth  amongst  them,  and  to  turn  them  to  its 
light  in  their  own  hearts — to  the  Holy  Spirit  of  Him,  who 
is  the  true  light  that  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into 
the  world  ;  in  whom  only  there  is  life,  and  who  is  the  only 
way  to  God  the  Father,  as  declared  by  Himself:  '  I  ahx 
the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life ;  no  man  cometh  to  the 
Father  but  by  me.'  That  a  mere  outward  profession  of 
religion  wouUl  prove  altogether  unavailing  to  tlicm  ;  the 
•     11* 


118  DANIEL    WHEELER. 

great  work  of  regeneration  must  be  witnessed  :  that  to  be 
members  of  the  true  church  they  must  be  redeemed  with 
judgment  from  sin  and  transgression,  and  be  converted 
unto  God  by  tlie  righteousness  of  Christ  Jesus,  believed 
in  and  submitted  to  through  faitli  in  the  operation  of  the 
•Spirit  of  God,  who  raised  Him  from  the  dead  ;  with  whom 
also  they  must  be  raised  from  death  unto  life." 
■  It  is  not  in  accordance  with  the  plan  of  this  collection 
to  describe  in  detail  the  varied  and  valuable  services  of 
this  dear  Friend,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  was  enabled 
to  bear  his  testimony  to  the  Gospel,  both  by  word  and 
deed,  in  his  own  native  country,  in  the  dominions  of  the 
Czar  of  Russia,  in  America  and  among  the  Pacific  islands. 
He  continued  t<>  the  last  a  faithful  laborer  in  his  Master's 
cause ;  and  ended  his  useful  and  instructive  career  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  in  1840.  He  had  come  there  under 
a  concern,  to  finish  a  religious  visit  to  the  churches  in 
America,  which  had  been  before  partially  performed.  In 
his  last  illness,  he  said,  "  I  want  nothing  but  the  love  of  my 
Heavenly  Father,  and  I  Avitness  it."  Several  times  during 
his  sickness  he  made  the  request,  "  I  want  to  be  left  en- 
tirely alone  with  my  Heavenly  Father."  To  a  beloved 
friend  who  called  to  see  him,  he  remarked,  '  Whilst  I  was 
on  shipboard,  and  thought  by  some  of  the  passengers  to 
be  nigh  unto  death,  how  did  the  Lord  appear  for  my  help 
and  consolation ;  and  since  I  have  been  in  this  chamber, 
how  has  He  appeared  for  my  comfort  in  the  night  season  ; 
and  I  have  been  enabled  to  sing  hymns  of  praise. and 
thanksgiving  unto  Him.  When  the  ship  made  her  sound- 
ings, I  made  my  soundings  upon  that  Rock,  whose  foun- 
dation is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting." 

Daniel  Wheeler  labored  to  ind)ue  the  minds  of  his 
children  with  the  love  and  fear  of  the  Almighty.  Whilst 
they  were  still  young  in  years,  he  instructed  them  dili- 
o-ently  in  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  and  was  persevering  in 


DANIEL    AVHEEr.EIJ.  119 

liis  efforts  to  make  tliem  familiar  with  the  lives  of  the 
early  members  of  the  Society  of  Frieuds,  which  so  strik- 
ingly portray  the  precious  fruits  of  the  principles  he 
jirofessed.  As  they  advanced  towards  maturity,  he  was 
earnest  in  imploring  for  them  the  gift  of  Divine  Grace, 
and  diligent  in  watching  for  opportunities  to  impress 
upon  them  the  imi)ortance  of  spiritual  things.  As  his 
eldest  son  attained  the  age  of  manhood,  earnest  were  the 
cravings  of  his  father,  that  the  Lord  would  direct  his 
heart  "into  the  Love  of  God,  and  into  the  patient  wait- 
ing for  Christ."  He  knew  W'ell,  that,  to  the  natural  man, 
the  things  of  God  must  ever  be  a  mystery  ;  and  he  longed, 
that,  through  submission  to  the  operations  of  the  Spirit  of 
Truth,  they  might  be  opened  to  his  understanding.  Often, 
with  parental  tenderness,  he  silently  watched  the  opening- 
convictions  of  his  inquiring  mind,  and  as  opportunities 
presented,  lie  labored  to  explain  to  him  the  views  he  had 
himself  received.  At  one  time,  the  sentiments  of  his  son 
on  these  all-important  subjects  were  exceedingly  unset- 
tled, and  he  passed  through  deep  mental  conflict  before 
he  yielded  to  the  light  of  Divine  truth  in  his  soul,  which 
dis]Delled  the  doubts  and  reasonings  by  which  he  was  as- 
sailed. It  was  at  this  period,  that  one  evening,  his  father 
and  he  being  alone  together,  they  had  much  conversation 
on  the  points  which  then  pressed  heavily  on  the  mind  oi" 
the  latter.  Before  retiring  to  rest,  his  i'ather  handed  him 
the  Bible,  and  i-equested  him  to  read  a  chapter  :  he  took 
the  book  and  read  the  third  chaptci-  of  Malachi.  Dee}) 
seriousness  overspread  his  countenance,  and  after  a  con- 
siderable time  of  silence  he  rei:)eated,  "  The  Lord  whom 
ye  seek  shall  suddenly  come  to  his  temple,  even  the  mes- 
.senger  of  the  covenant  whom  ye  delight  in  ;" — and  He 
shall  be  "  like  a  refiner's  fire  and  like  fuller's  soap  :"  add- 
ing, "Yes,  He  will  ctjiiie  into  His  own  temple,  the  It  iiiplc 
of  the  heart,  and  there  do  His  own  work.      I  never  under- 


120  DAXIEl-    AVHEKLKP.. 

stood  this  chapter  before,  nor  saw,  as  I  uow  see  it,  the 
spiritual  nature  of  the  gospel  dispensation."  The  im- 
pression thus  made  was  not  effaced.  The  change  which 
gradually  succeeded  was  most  striking  ;  clearly  evincing 
to  those  around,  that  the  day  had  indeed  dawned,  and 
the  day-star  arisen,  in  a  heart  long  oppressed  with  dark- 
ness, and  a  prey  to  many  doubts.  In  reference  to  this 
period,  his  father  once  remarked  with  much  emotion, — 
"this  kind  can  come  forth  by  nothing  but  by  prayer  and 
fasting,"  intimating  the  long  continued  exercise  of  soul 
through  which  he  had  been  led  on  behalf  of  his  sou. 


COMLTTDING    REMARKS,  *  121 


In  reviewing  tlie  instructive  records  ul'  their  religious 
experience,  which  have  been  left  as  way-marks  to  succeed- 
ing generations,  by  these  devoted  servants  of  the  Lord — 
and  the  number  of  such  accounts  might  be  greatly  in- 
creased— while  there  is  much  variety  in  the  attendant  or 
peculiar  circumstances,  we  find  certain  features  which  are 
common  to  all. 

The  beginning  of  the  work  of  religion  was  always  in 
the  impressions  made  on  the  soul  by  the  Spirit  of  Christ. 
These  impressions  sometimes  accompanied  the  advice  and 
exhortations  of  concerned  parents  or  friends,  or  the  occur- 
rence of  outward  incidents  which  awakened  the  attention 
to  serious  things  ;  and  sometimes  arose  without  connection 
with  any  external  events.  They  were  various  in  their 
operations  ;  bringing  a  sense  of  condemnation  for  wrong- 
doing, or  warning  against  things  which  were  of  evil  ten- 
dency ;  or  spreading  a  feeling  of  solemnity  over  the  mhid, 
and  melting  it  into  tenderness.  As  the  heart  bowed  in 
submission  to  these  operatious  of  the  Spirit,  and  yielded 
itself  fully  to  their  influence,  these  Friends  experienced 
the  work  of  regeneration  to  take  place  in  them  ;  and  a 
sense  of  Divine  love  and  favor  was  vouchsafed,  to  their 
great  comfort  and  rejoicing. 

When,  through  un watchfulness  and  disobedience,  these 
strivings  of  the  Spirit  were  disregarded,  a  state  of  in- 
creasing hardness  of  heart  followed  ;  in  which,  the  Light 
of  Christ  shone  on  the  darkness  within  as  a  condemning 
•  witness,  bringing  a  sense  of  uneasiness  and  distress,  instead 
of  comfort  and  consolation.  From  this  condition  there 
was  no  way  of  return  to  the  sensible  enjoyment  of  Divine 
favor,  until,  1)V  the  rencwe*!  visitations  and  cxtciidings  of 


V2'2  CONCLUDING     IlEMA  RKS. 

help  from  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  a  willingness  was  wi-ought 
in  the  mind  to  submit  to  the  Divine  will,  and  patiently 
to  bear_  the  judgments  of  the  Lord. 

As  true  repentance  was  thus  effected,  and  the  soul 
turned  in  sincerity  to  the  Light  which  revealed  its  fallen 
condition,  it  was  made  willing  to  endure  the  sense  of  con- 
demnation for  its  former  evil  actions,  and  to  pass  through 
the  exercises  and  trials  which  were  needful  for  its  refine- 
ment, and  for  destroying  the  tendencies  to  evil  which  had 
become  firmly  rooted  in  it.  In  thus  submitting  to  the 
discipline  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  an  earnest  cry  was  often 
raised,  "  Let  not  thine  eye  pity,  nor  thy  hand  spare,  till 
thou  hast  brought  forth  judgment  unto  victory" — and  this, 
from  a  sense,  that  there  could  be  no  safety  here,  nor  hap- 
piness hereafter,  unless  the  heart  was  purged  from  its  de- 
filements, and  its  aflfectious  set  on  heavenly  things. 

Though  this  ministry  of  condemnation  was  hard  to  bear, 
yet  strength  was  given  to  endure  it,  by  a  Divine  power  ; 
and  precious  hopes  were  raised  in  the  heart;  and  at  inter- 
vals, a  sense  of  spiritual  comfort  and  forgivCHess  of  past 
sins,  through  faith  in  Christ.  Though  the  vicissitudes  of 
conflict  and  of  ease,  varied  much  in  difterent  individuals, 
according  to  their  different  circumstances,  and  the  ser- 
vices in  the  Church  and  the  world  for  which  they  were 
designed  ;  yet,  all  were  thereby  led  into  a  state  of  inward 
watchfulness  to  the  guidance  of  the  Light  of  Christ,  and 
a  settlement  therein,  as  the  only  state  of  safety  attainable 
in  this  life ;  and  found,  even  after  many  years  of  estab- 
lishment in  religion,  and  active  service  in  the  Church,  the 
necessity  of  patiently  and  humbly  enduring  such  exercises 
and  conflicts  of  spirit  as  it  pleased  their  Heavenly  Father 
to  administer,  either  as  preparations  for  His  work  among 
men,  or  for  their  own  preservation  in  humility  and  in- 
tegrity. 

The  faith  in  God  and  in  His  Grace,  which  necessarily 


CONCLUDIXG     REMARKS,  123 

accompanied  the  chauge  of  heart  which  was  thus  carried 
forward  in  them ;  led  to  a  reverent  regard  for  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  whose  precious  promises  and  precepts  Avere 
often  applied  to  their  hearts  in  the  way  of  warning,  in- 
struction and  comfort ;  and  they  were  thus  confirmed  in 
their  belief  in  them  and  their  love  for  them.  They  were 
taught  also  to  accept  our  Loi-d  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ 
in  all  His  offices,  and  to  place  their  dependence,  not  on 
their  own  merits  and  works,  but  on  the  mercy  of  God,  as 
manifested  in  the  atoning  sacrifice  of  the  Redeemer  for 
their  sins,  and  in  the  effectual  working  of  His  Spirit  and 
power  in  their  hearts  to  redeem  them  from  the  dominion 
of  sin,  and  to  translate  them  into  His  holy  and  heavenly 
kingdom. 

George  Whitehead  says :-:—"  True  and  living  faith  in 
Christ  Jesus  the  Son  of  the  Living  God,  has  respect  to  His 
entire  being  and  fulness  ;  to  Him  entirely,  as  in  Himself, 
and  as  all  powder  in  heaven  and  earth  is  given  unto  Him ; 
and  also  an  eye  and  respect  to  the  same  Son  of  God,  as 
inwardly  making  Himself  known  in  the  soul  in  every 
degree  of  His  Light,  Life,  Spirit,  Grace  and  Truth.  *  * 
And  when  the  least  degree  or  measure  of  this  Light  and 
Life  of  Christ  within,  is  sincerely  waited  for,  followed 
and  obeyed,  there  is  a  blessed  increase  of  light  and  grace 
known  and  felt :  as  the  path  of  the  just  it  shines  more 
and  more  until  the  perfect  day  ;  and  thereby  a  growing 
in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  God,  and  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  hath  been  and  is  truly  experi- 
enced. And  this  Light,  Life  or  Spirit  of  Christ  within, 
for  they  are  one  Divine  Principle,  is  sufficient  to  lead  into 
all  truth.     *  It  does  not  only,  as  in  its  first  ministra- 

tion, manifest  sin,  and  reprove  and  condemn  for  sin,  but 
also  excites  and  leads  them  that  believe  in  it  to  true  re- 
pentance, and  thereupon  to  receive  that  mercy,  pardon 
Mild   rcdeni]ttif)ii    in   Christ   .Jc.-us,  which  lie  h:is  ohtaincd 


124  CONCLUDIJSIG    KEMAEKS. 

for  mankiud,  ou  those  gospel  terms  of  faith  in  His  Name, 
true  repentance  and  conversion  to  Christ,  thereby  re- 
quired."    *     =^     * 

"  Though  we  had  the  Holy  Scrij)tures  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testament,  and  a  belief  of  Christ  crucified  and  risen, 
&c.,  we  never  truly  knew  the  mystery  thereof,  until  we 
were  turned  to  the  Light  of  His  Grace  and  Spirit  within 
us ;  we  knew  not  what  it  was  to  be  reconciled  by  His 
death,  and  saved  by  His  life,  or  what  it  was  to  know  the 
fellowship  of  His  sufferings,  the  power  of  His  resurrection, 
or  to  be  made  conformable  unto  His  death, — we  knew 
not,  until  He  opened  our  eyes,  and  turned  our  minds 
from  darkness  unto  His  own  Divine  Light  and  Life 
within  us." 

Some,  in  the  present  day,  profess  to  place  their  hopes  of 
salvation,  on  faith  in  the  blood  of  Christ  shed  for  them  on 
Calvary;  and  others,  ou  the  work  of  His  Spirit  within 
them.  The  Society  of  Friends  has  ever  accepted,  fully 
and  reverently,  the  doctrine  of  the  Atonement  and  Medi- 
ation of  our  Blessed  Redeemer;  that  he  was  offered  on  the 
cross  as  a  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  the  world,  and  that  our 
salvation  is  only  through  Him.  But  they  have  held 
witli  equal  firmness  the  great  complemental  truth,  that 
the  saving  effects  of  this  wonderful  manifestation  of  the 
goodness  of  God,  can  be  experienced  by  those  only  who 
submit  to  the  government  of  the  same  Saviour,  as  He 
appears  in  their  hearts,  by  His  Holy  Spirit,  or  Divine 
Light.  This  accords  with  the  language  of  the  apostle : 
"Know  ye  not  your  ownselves,  how  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
in  you,  except  ye  be  reprobates."  Hence  it  is  clear,  that 
no  one  can  have  a  true  and  saving  faith  in  Christ  Jesus, 
who  rejects  His  grace  or  Spirit  as  it  appears  in  his  heart.^ 


-^^^ 


